Feedback is an important Systems Thinking concept, it allows systems to keep a balance, or equilibrium.
A system produces output in the environment which have an affect on the environment. This effects are reported back to the system by inputs. This feedback mechanism allows the system to manage itself so it can stay in a state of dynamic equilibrium.
The temporal aspect of feedback will be reviewed in this lesson via subsequent blog posts.
Feedback not only needs to be of correct type but also available at appropriate times.
To avoid output oscillating there should be minimum delay in applying feedback. If feedback is applied too late it may be of no use at all to the system.
“Feed forward” control mechanism developed to avoid this situation. It carefully predicts the nature, size and frequency of inputs needed to maintain a stable state.
This overlap of feedback and control demonstrates that feedback is merely one aspect of control.