Download - General System Theory
GENERAL SYSTEM THEORY
Reduction vs. Systems
1950’s the main approach to understanding was ‘reductionism’ – divide something into its parts
Ludwig von Bertalnffy proposed systems thinking – discover how something interacts with its environment
General Systems Theory
Science of understanding open systems theory
GST provides a framework to study open systems
GST is not too general nor too specific
Open Systems
All living and many non-living things are open systems
Systems theory gives us a way to ‘think about’ open systems
Systems theory lays the foundation for the analysis and modelling of systems
Systems theory provides an analytical framework for comprehending dynamic interrelated operating systems
Open System
Sense Response
ENVIRONMENT
OPENSYSTEM
University – Open System
UNIVERSITY
PolicyApproved FundingIndustry NeedsStudents
Funding RequestsNew KnowledgeGraduates
Systems Thinking
holistic approach to problem solving reflecting on how the organisation
relates to its business environment and
how factors in the environment can affect the organisation
Definition of ‘System’
“... an identifiable, complex dynamic entity composed of discernibly different parts or subsystems that are interrelated to and interdependent on each other and the whole entity with an overall capability to maintain stability and to adapt behaviour in response to external influences” [Webster’s]
Boulding’s Explanation
“Somewhere … between the specific that has no meaning and the general that has no content there must be, for each purpose and at each level of abstraction, an optimum degree of generality”
Beckett’s explanation
"The trust of general systems .. is to draw attention to the study of relationships of parts to one another within the wholes”
GST Traits
Systems … are Goal Seeking are Holistic have Hierarchy have Inputs and Outputs transform inputs into outputs consume and/or create Energy are affected by Entropy have Equifinality have Feedback
Goal Seeking All open systems must have goals There are two types
Inner directed goals Outer directed goals
Design strategies are typically “outer directed” goals
Maintenance strategies are an “inner directed” goal
Holistic
Fredrick Hagel (1770-1831) The whole is more than the sum of the parts The whole determines the sum of the parts The parts cannot be understood if considered
in isolation from the whole The parts are dynamically interrelated and
interdependent
SUB SYSTEM
SUB SYSTEM
SUB SYSTEM
SUB SYSTEM SUB
SYSTEM
SUB SYSTEM
SUB SYSTEM
Boundry
HierarchicalWHOLE SYSTEM
SUB SYSTEM
SUB SYSTEM
SUB SYSTEM
SUB SYSTEM
SUB SYSTEM
SUB SYSTEM
SYSTEMS
MORE GENERAL
MORE DETAIL
PLANT LEVEL
DEPARTMENT LEVEL
CELL LEVEL
PROCESS LEVEL
WORKSTATION LEVEL
Transform Inputs into Outputs
TRANSFORM INPUTS TO OUTPUTS
TRANSFORM INPUTS TO OUTPUTS
ERROR FEEDBACK
STATUS FEEDBACK
OUTPUT
INPUT
INPUT
OUTPUT
INPUTOUTPUT
INPUT
Entropy
A measure of the amount of disorder in a system
Everything disintegrates over time Negative entropy or centropy Effects of entropy are offset by the
system transforming itself continuously Maintain order through such things as
repairs, maintenance and possibly growing by importing ‘energy’
Energy, Equifinality and Feedback
Systems create/consume energy Physical Emotional
Equifinality is the ability for systems to achieve goals in a number of ways
This flexibility allows systems avoid the effects of entropy
Systems have feedback - feedback can allow a system to change its direction
Conclusions Views of GST are universal GST combats ‘isolationist’ tendencies among
engineers, systems analysts, business analysts, IT specialists, etc. etc.
GST offers a framework for understanding all systems
Benefits of GST to design of systems are significant
Theory of GST lays at the foundation of much new thinking in - including ‘Learning Organisations’, ‘Structured Analysis’, ‘Sociotechnical Design’ and ‘Strategic Planning’
Boulding and the Hierarchy of Systems Complexity Kenneth Boulding, “General System
Theory – The Skeleton of Science”, 1956 The existing over-specialization of
science and the lack of communication between the different areas.
Each studies some kind of systems, a classification is necessary if a general methodology for their study is to be developed.
Boulding and the Hierarchy of Systems Complexity [2] Frameworks
Level of static structures and relationship Ex: the arrangement of atoms in a crystal,
the anatomy of genes, the organization of the astronomical universe.
Clockworks The Solar System simple dynamic system
with predetermined motion Car engines and dynamos
Boulding and the Hierarchy of Systems Complexity [3] Cybernetic Systems
Control mechanism, characterized: feedback mechanisms with transmission and interpretation of information.
A thermostat with teleological behavior
Cell Self-maintaining structure Open-system level
Boulding and the Hierarchy of Systems Complexity [4] Plant
Process of the plant level take place without specialized sense organs, the reaction to changes in the environment is slow.
Animal Wide range of specialized sensors convey a great
amount of information via a nervous system to a brain where information can be stored and structured.
Reaction to changes in the environment are more or less instantaneous.
Boulding and the Hierarchy of Systems Complexity [5] Human
Sophisticated language capability and the use of internal symbols through which man accumulates knowledge.
Social Organization The units assumed roles and these are tied together
by the channel of communication.
Transcendental Unknowable, presupposed exhibit systemic structure
and relationship.
Boulding and the Hierarchy of Systems Complexity [6] Physical Scientist
Category of physical and mechanical systems: framework, clockwork, cybernetics
Biologist, Botanist, and zoologist cell, plant, and animal
Social Scientist Human and social organization
Philosophy Transcendental systems
Checkland and the Systems Typology Peter Checkland, “Systems Thinking
Systems Practice”, 1981. The absolute minimum number of
systems classes necessary to describe the existing reality is four natural, human activity, designed physical, designed abstract, systems.
Checkland and the Systems Typology [2] Natural Systems
“they are systems which could not be other than they are, given a universe whose patterns and laws are not erratic”
Human Activity Systems Have a tendency to integrate in such a way
that they can be viewed as a whole. Social system Ex: agricultural, defence, trading,
transportation
Checkland and the Systems Typology [3] Designed Physical Systems
Systems fitted with purpose of mind because a need for them in some human activity has been identified
Individual tools, individual machines, other designed and fabricated material entities
Designed Abstract Systems Various type of theological, philosophical or
knowledge systems. Only associated with human beings.
General System Theory
Kepentingannya bagi Desain Sistem Informasi
Komponen-komponen dari suatu sistem berinteraksi
Gambarkan komponen-komponen dan hubungan antar mereka selama proses analisis
Sebuah sistem adalah suatu keseluruhan
Yakinkan untuk merumuskan keseluruhan sistem sebelum menguji sub sistem
Sistem dibuat untuk tujuan tertentu (goal seeking)
Apa tujuan sistem informasi yang dibangun?
Sistem memiliki masukan dan keluaran
Tujuan utama desain adalah menentukan masukan dan keluaran
Sistem mengubah masukan untuk menghasilkan keluaran
Tugas utama desain adalah menentukan proses pengolahan untuk menghasilkan keluaran berdasarkan masukan
Sistem menunjukan adanya entropi
Pengolahan informasi adalah hal krisis bagi keberhasilan suatu organisasi
Sistem harus dikendalikan
SI membantu mengendalikan organisasi; SI harus mempunyai umpan balik
Sistem membentuk hirarki
Disain SI merupakan tugas berhirarki; sistem terdiri dari hirarki subsistem
Sistem memperlihatkan adanya diferensiasi
SI mempunyai banyak bagian-bagian khusus
Sistem memperlihatkan adanya equifinality
Ada banyak cara untuk mendisain SI untuk mencapai sasaran yang dikehendaki.