Month: September 2015

  • Envisioning our Systems of interest – Boundary and Environment

    Start by naming system, define it closely and well to ensure its extent and its capabilities and limits are known and clear to those discussing it. Boundary determines what is include and what is left out. Specify beginning and end, too small a boundary results in important items being left out. Noteworthy items put  outside…

  • Do Systems Exist?

    First question is – do systems exist. The answer is yes and no. Key point to understand about Systems Thinking – provides set of concepts and techniques to analyse situations. Can be used in number of situations analyse existing situations situations that are not systems but insights can be gained Fundamentally, system is set of…

  • Type of Systems Introduction

    Systems described as one of: Probabilistic System Affected by chance events Future behaviour of system is matter of probability E.g. political systems, business systems and social systems Deterministic System Operate to predetermined set of rules E.g. data processing systems and the planetary system Software and networks are deterministic systems implemented in probabilistic systems (e.g. businesses)…

  • Open, Closed and Isolated systems

    At a high level, systems are classified as Open or Closed. Closed Systems (also known as isolated systems in thermodynamics – see further below) No interaction outside of the system No interaction with the systems environment Receive no inputs from, or provide no outputs to, the environment Closed systems with outputs are knowable only through its…

  • The whole system design paradigm

    Whole system design incorporates sustainable design – design and development of systems to achieve: Consume natural resources within capacity for them to be regenerated Do not release/produce hazardous/polluting substances Avoid contributing to irreversible impacts on ecosystem Provide useful and socially acceptable benefits long term Cost-effective and produce reasonable rate of return on total life-cycle investment.…