knowledge-base

Systems Thinking

Definition

A “system” in systems thinking is a set of interconnected elements, which can be subsystems in their own right, organized within defined boundaries. These elements function cohesively to achieve a common purpose or produce specific outcomes, influenced by the system’s structure and internal interactions.

• Interconnected Elements: A system contains one or many elements which are interconnected.
• Can be subsystems in their own right: Any element can be a high level abstraction of a whole system of its own.
• Organized within defined boundaries: A system as clear, set boundaries, anything outside the boundaries is not a part of the system. However, a boundary can be adjacent to other systems which the systems is interconnected to.
• Elements function cohesively to achieve a common purpose or produce specific outcomes: The structure and behavior of these interconnected elements produce certain outcome.

Building Blocks

…todo

Resources

Raw Ideas

The concept of a “system” can be applied to pretty much anything around us. The human bod is a

For a System we can find a definition like:

a set of things working together as parts of a mechanism or an interconnecting network; a complex whole.

Or more specifically for Software Systems:

System software is a set of generalized programs that manage the resources of the computer, such as the central processing unit, communication links, and peripheral devices

However, as you will read further about Evolutionary Architecture you might understand why I personally like to keep the following definition.:

a group of body organs that together perform one or more vital functions

Lastly, if we look at physics, we can also see the usage of the term:

The law of conservation of energy states that energy can neither be created nor destroyed - only converted from one form of energy to another. This means that a system always has the same amount of energy, unless it’s added from the outside.

Either way, a System is a concept, far more general than software/IT systems. There is a field of Systems Thinking. If you want to read more about it, I suggest Thinking in Systems: A Primer.

Keep in mind, a system can exist out of smaller systems or be a part of a bigger system. Usually a system has also adjacent systems. Deciding on what parts you consider to include in your “view” of the system is important and challenging.