Lesson Objectives All of you should be able to: Identify the parts of any given system. Most of you will be able to: Describe all elements of any given system. Some of you will be able to: Define system.

An Introduction to Systems Theory An Introduction to Systems Theory

System Examples Individually make a list of all the systems you can thing of. (1 minutes) In pairs share your list and complete each one.

Systems Examples

What do they have in common? Individually write a list of things that systems examples have in common. (2 minutes) They will need to be general things as they don’t share parts. In pairs discuss with your partners, share and think of other common elements (3 minutes)

System

All systems will have Goal Environment Input Process Output Feedback Control

Goal

Environment

Input

Process

Output

Feedback

Control

What is a System? According to Ackoff: “A system is a set of two or more elements that satisfies the following conditions”: The behavior of each element has an effect on the behavior of the whole The behavior of the elements and their effect on the whole are interdependent However subgroups of elements are formed, each has an effect on the behavior of the whole and none has an independent effect on it”

What is a System? Weinberg: “A system is a way of looking at the world” Systems don’t really exist! Just a convenient way of describing things (like ‘sets’)

What is a system? General Systems Theory Ludwig von Bertalanffy) A system is a set of objects or elements that interact to achieve a specific goal. A system is more than the sum of it's parts; it's properties emerge from the relationship among it's parts and from the system's relationship to its environment Systems are arranged hierarchically, so every system is a super system for systems contained within it and a subsystem for systems containing it.

What Is A System? A group of interacting, interrelated, or interdependent elements or parts that function together as a whole to accomplish a goal. Large systems contain many sub-systems Smaller systems may be contained by larger systems. Larger and smaller are relative

System Definition Write your definition for System

Basic Principles of Systems Theory 1. A system is greater than the sum of its parts. 2. The system studied must exhibit some predictability. 3. Though each sub-system is a self-contained unit, it is part of a wider and higher order. 4. The central objective of a system can be identified by the fact that other objectives will be sacrificed in order to attain the central objective.

5. Every system, living or mechanical, is an information system. 6. A system and its environment are highly interrelated. 7. A highly complex system may have to be broken into subsystems so each can be analyzed and understood before being reassembled into a whole. 8. A system consists of a set of objectives and their relationships. 9. A system is a dynamic network of interconnecting elements. A change in only one of the elements must produce change in all the others.

10. When subsystems are arranged in a series, the output of one is the input for another; therefore, process alterations in one requires alterations in other subsystems. 11. All systems tend toward equilibrium, which is a balance of various forces within and outside of a system. 12. The boundary of a system can change. 13. To be viable, a system must be strongly goal-directed, governed by feedback, and have the ability to adapt to changing circumstances.