Ch. 6.1 Non-mechanical Systems

Non-mechanical Systems non-mechanical system – a procedure or process designed to perform a task along with the people involved – examples: public transportation systems; school systems; your class binders

Components of a Non-mechanical Systems components – part of a system – in order for a system to perform its task successfully, the component of the system must interact

Components of a School System – buildings – books – desks – playgrounds – equipment – subjects – textbooks – rules – class schedule – buses – teachers – students – principal – administrative staff – custodians – security officers – school board – bus driver

Systems Require Organization in order for a system to work properly, the components of that system must work together in an organized manner – example: a ferry schedule tells commuters what time a ferry will arrive at an leave a dock a ferry schedule that has the wrong arrival/departure times does not function properly and leads to confusion, missed appointments, and wasted time

Systems Require Organization in order for a system to work properly, the components of that system must work together in an organized manner – example: a ferry schedule tells commuters what time a ferry will arrive at and leave a dock; the ferry must stick to that schedule as closely as possible for the system to be efficient

Systems Develop from a Need society develops systems to improve our standard of living needs are recognized in society, and from these needs society develops systems as a response to that need

Keeping Systems Working Efficiently once a system is in place, it needs to be monitored frequently to make sure it is meeting the needs of its consumers – consumers – an individual who uses the goods or services provided by a system example: a passenger on a bus; a student at a school – in order for a system to work efficiently, the consumer must be provided with information and support on how to use it (instructions, tech support, etc.) over time, a system may need to be re-organized to better meet the needs of its consumers

Keeping Systems Working Efficiently What good would a ferry service be if its consumers (the passengers) never knew what time the ferry was to arrive and depart? – the ferry service provides timetables for arrival/departure of the ferry – a ferry schedule that has the wrong arrival/departure times posted on the internet or on the sign at the dock does not function properly and leads to confusion, missed appointments, and wasted time regular monitoring of a system helps to keep the system efficient