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

Policy

Approved Funding

Industry Needs

Students

Funding Requests

New Knowledge

Graduates

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

Hierarchical

WHOLE 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.