NOTE
Nothing in life is good or bad in itself; it is the system of thought and belief we live inside that defines good and bad things…
What does “system” mean?
“System” is one of those words we all say and rarely define precisely: education system, administrative system, operating system, system of governance. What they all share is a set of parts that relate to each other and work toward a purpose. Without parts there is no system; without relations it is only a heap; and without a purpose it is an accidental collection.
This section is the home of the concept itself, before we go on to analysis or design. To me, until we know what a system is and where its boundary lies, any analysis hangs in the air.
Where to start
- What is a system? Definition, components and purpose: the definition of a system, the three components of parts, relations and purpose, and whether every system has a purpose.
- Holism and reductionism: two views in analysis: two views of the world, atomism and holism, and why knowing the parts alone is not enough.
- General system theory: from Bertalanffy to today: general system theory and Bertalanffy’s attempt to find principles common to all systems.
- What does a systems analyst do?: the person who applies the systems view in practice.
systemsystem_definitionsystems_thinking
Related: Foundations of systems analysis (the full course) and Lipstick on a Pig (when we only change the surface of a system).