In this article we will consider the definition of a system as a device made up of various structural elements. Here the question of the classification of systems and their characteristics will be touched upon, as well as the formulation of Ashby's law and the concept of a general theory.
Introduction
The definition of a system is a multiple series of elements that are in a certain connection with each other and form an integrity.
The use of system as a term is driven by the need to emphasize various characteristics of something. As a rule, we are talking about a complex and huge structure of an object. It is most often difficult to disassemble such a mechanism unambiguously, which is another reason for using the term "system".
The definition of a system has a characteristic difference from "set" or "collection", which manifests itself in the fact that the main term of the article tells us about the order and integrity in a particular object. The system always has a certain pattern of its construction and functioning, and it also has specifics.development.
Term Definition
There are various definitions of a system that can be classified according to a wide variety of characteristics. This is a very broad concept that can be used in relation to almost everything and in any science. The content of the context about the system, the field of knowledge and the purpose of study and analysis also strongly influence the definition of this concept. The problem of exhaustive characterization lies in the use of the term both objective and subjective.
Let's look at some descriptive definitions:
- A system is a complex formation of interacting fragments of an integral "mechanism".
- System is a general accumulation of elements that are in some relation to each other, and also connected with the environment.
- A system is a set of interconnected components and details, isolated from the environment, but interacting with it and working as a whole.
The first descriptive definitions of a system date back to the early days of systems science. Such terminology included only elements and a set of relationships. Further, various concepts began to be included, for example, functions.
System in everyday life
A person uses the definition of the system in various spheres of life and activity:
- When naming theories, such as Plato's philosophical system.
- When creating a classification.
- When creating a structure.
- When naming a set of established life norms and behavioral rules. An example is the system of legislation or moral values.
Systems research is a development in science that is studied in a wide variety of disciplines, such as engineering, systems theory, systems analysis, systemology, thermodynamics, system dynamics, etc.
Characterization of a system through its constituent components
The main definitions of a system include a number of characteristics, through the analysis of which one can somehow give an exhaustive description of it. Consider the dominant ones:
- The limit of partitioning the system into fragments is the definition of the element. From the point of view of the aspects under consideration, the tasks to be solved and the goal set, they can be classified and differ in different ways.
- A component is a subsystem that is presented to us as a relatively independent particle of the system and at the same time possesses some of its properties and subgoal.
- Connection is the relationship between the elements of the system and what they limit. The connection allows you to reduce the degree of freedom of fragments of the "mechanism", but at the same time acquire new properties.
- Structure - a list of the most essential components and links that change little during the current functioning of the system. It is responsible for the presence of the main properties.
- The main concept in the definition of the system is also the concept of purpose. The goal is a multifaceted concept that can be defined depending on the data of the context and the stage of cognition, onwhere the system is located.
The approach to defining a system also depends on concepts such as state, behavior, development and life cycle.
Presence of patterns
When analyzing the main term of the article, it will be important to pay attention to the presence of some regularities. The first is the presence of limitations from the general environment. In other words, it is integrativity, which defines the system as an abstract entity that has integrity and clearly defined boundaries of its boundaries.
The system has synergy, emergence and holism, as well as a systemic and super-additive effect. Elements of the system may be interconnected between specific components, and some may not interact in any way, but the influence in any case is all-encompassing. It is produced through indirect interaction.
Defining a system is a term closely related to the phenomenon of hierarchy, which is the definition of different parts of a system as separate systems.
Classification data
Practically all publications studying systems theory and systems analysis are discussing the question of how to properly classify them. The greatest diversity among the list of opinions about such a distinction concerns the definition of complex systems. The predominant part of the classifications refers to arbitrary, which are also called empirical. This means that most authorsarbitrarily use this term in case of need to characterize a specific problem being solved. The distinction is most often made by the definition of the subject and the categorical principle.
Among the main properties most often pay attention to:
- The quantitative value of all components of the system, namely for monocomponent or multicomponent.
- When considering a static structure, it is necessary to take into account the state of relative rest and the presence of dynamism.
- Relationship to closed or open type.
- A characteristic of a deterministic system at a particular point in time.
- It is necessary to take into account homogeneity (for example, a population of organisms in a form) or heterogeneity (the presence of different elements with different properties).
- When analyzing a discrete system, regularities and processes are always clearly limited, and according to the origin, they distinguish: artificial, natural and mixed.
- It is important to pay attention to the degree of organization.
The definition of a system, types of systems and the system as a whole is also connected with the question of perceiving them as complex or simple. However, this is where most of the disagreement lies when trying to give an exhaustive list of characteristics according to which it is necessary to distinguish between them.
The concept of a probabilistic and deterministic system
Definition of the term "system", created and proposed by Art. Beer, has become one of the most widely known and widespread throughout the world. In the basis of the foundation of difference, he put a combinationlevels of determinism and complexity and received probabilistic and deterministic. Examples of the latter are simple structures such as window shutters and machine shop designs. The complex ones are represented by computers and automation.
The probabilistic device of elements in a simple form can be the tossing of a coin, the movement of a jellyfish, the presence of statistical control in relation to the quality of products. Among the complex examples of a system, we can recall the storage of reserves, conditioned reflexes, etc. Super-complex forms of a probabilistic type: the concept of the economy, the structure of the brain, the firm, etc.
Ashby's Law
The definition of a system is closely related to Ashby's law. In the case of creating a certain structure in which the components have relationships with each other, it is necessary to determine the presence of a problem-solving ability. It is important that the system has a variety that exceeds the same indicator for the problem that is being worked on. The second feature is the ability of the system to create such diversity. In other words, the structure of the system must be regulated so that it can change its properties in response to a change in the conditions of the problem being solved or the manifestation of a disturbance.
In the absence of such characteristics in the phenomenon under study, the system will not be able to meet the requirements for management tasks. It will become ineffective. It is also important to pay attention to the presence of diversity in the list of subsystems.
The concept of a general theory
The definition of a system is not only its general characteristic, but also a set of various important aspects. One of them is the concept of the general theory of systems, which is presented in the form of a scientific and methodological concept of studying the objects that form the system. It is interconnected with such a terminological unit as "system approach", and is a list of its specified principles and methodologies. The first form of the general theory was put forward by L. Von Bertalanffy, and his idea was based on the recognition of the isomorphism of the fundamental statements responsible for the control and functionality of the system objects.
