Category: 02 – Understanding Systems
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Dynamic Equilibrium
Concept of system keeping itself in a steady state. Control and feedback loops provide inputs into this concept. Concept suggests system has management capabilities to maintain dynamic equilibrium. If dynamic equilibrium not maintained, system may cease to function or may function in a manner that does not meet purpose, objectives or goals. Example: British political…
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Emergence
Example of emergence: Central Heating System. Components are radiators, boiler, water, thermostat and pump. Collection of components provide no functionality. When organised and interconnected in specific way they form a system with emergence of heat and hot water. The thermostat is the control mechanism, inputs from the environment are how warm it is and how…
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Hierarchy
Hierarchy determines the graded levels of systems and sub-systems. Need to decide how many levels of hierarchy to analyse: too few results in any overly simplistic analysis resulting in interconnections and complexity being misunderstood too many results in any overly complicated analysis resulting in too much detail obscuring key interconnections Example: Consider a school as…
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Environment and sub-system
Environment is context in which system operates and is major influence on system behaviour. System receives inputs from and provides outputs to environment. Systems change overtime. “What does the system interact with?” – no absolute answer. Depends on perspective taken. The same applies to the boundary too. Stakeholders have one view but asking whole group…
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Boundary
Identifies limits of the system. Definition of boundary relates directly to system’s purpose. Inside boundary are elements/components that make up system and are within system’s control. Outside boundary is environment and the elements/components that are outside of the system’s control. Elements/components both inside and outside boundary can be used as system inputs and can also be…
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Control
When the system is able to control itself. May use feedback received to match against goals and objectives. If any discrepancies detected, system takes corrective action by changing outputs which, as a result, change the inputs. This occurs on a continuous basis depending on the feedback. Control is over-arching term that includes feedback. Control loop…
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Feedback
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…
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Input & Output
Open system takes inputs from environment and produces outputs to same environment. Example: manufacturing organisation takes inputs such as human resources, physical resources, capital and technology. Output would be such as a product.
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Goals/Objectives
System has a purpose – to achieve this, system will have goals and objectives. Goals and objectives are specific & achievable outcomes against which the system can be measured. Examples include sales figures, market share and profit margins.
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Systems Concepts introduction
This Systems Concepts unit introduces further concepts supporting identification and creation of systems and definition of their purpose as well as an introduction to complex systems. Concepts, terms and components are properties of all systems: Goals/Objectives Input/Ouput Feedback Control Boundary Environment Sub System Hierarchy Emergence Dynamic Equilibrium Perspective/Stakeholders Transformation If situation cannot be viewed with…