Systems Thinking - The Concept of A System

The Concept of A System

The several ways to think of and define a system include:.

• A system is composed of parts.
• All the parts of a system must be related (directly or indirectly), else there are really two or more distinct systems
• A system is encapsulated, has a boundary.
• The boundary of a system is a decision made by an observer, or a group of observers.
• A system can be nested inside another system.
• A system can overlap with another system.
• A system is bounded in time.
• A system is bounded in space, though the parts are not necessarily co-located.
• A system receives input from, and sends output into, the wider environment.
• A system consists of processes that transform inputs into outputs.

Science systems thinkers consider that:

• a system is a dynamic and complex whole, interacting as a structured functional unit;
• energy, material and information flow among the different elements that compose the system;
• a system is a community situated within an environment;
• energy, material and information flow from and to the surrounding environment via semi-permeable membranes or boundaries;
• systems are often composed of entities seeking equilibrium but can exhibit oscillating, chaotic, or exponential behavior.

A holistic system is any set (group) of interdependent or temporally interacting parts. Parts are generally systems themselves and are composed of other parts, just as systems are generally parts or holons of other systems.

Science systems and the application of science systems thinking has been grouped into three categories based on the techniques used to tackle a system:

• Hard systems — involving simulations, often using computers and the techniques of operations research/management science. Useful for problems that can justifiably be quantified. However it cannot easily take into account unquantifiable variables (opinions, culture, politics, etc.), and may treat people as being passive, rather than having complex motivations.
• Soft systems — For systems that cannot easily be quantified, especially those involving people holding multiple and conflicting frames of reference. Useful for understanding motivations, viewpoints, and interactions and addressing qualitative as well as quantitative dimensions of problem situations. Soft systems are a field that utilizes foundation methodological work developed by Peter Checkland, Brian Wilson and their colleagues at Lancaster University. Morphological analysis is a complementary method for structuring and analysing non-quantifiable problem complexes.
• Evolutionary systems — Béla H. Bánáthy developed a methodology that is applicable to the design of complex social systems. This technique integrates critical systems inquiry with soft systems methodologies. Evolutionary systems, similar to dynamic systems are understood as open, complex systems, but with the capacity to evolve over time. Bánáthy uniquely integrated the interdisciplinary perspectives of systems research (including chaos, complexity, cybernetics), cultural anthropology, evolutionary theory, and others.