Systems Thinking

This Knowledge Area (KA) provides a guide to knowledge about systems. This knowledge is not specific to systems engineering , but is part of a wider systems body of knowledge. We have not attempted to capture all of the system knowledge here, but to identify those aspects of systems and systems science which are relevant to systems engineering.

Topics

The topics contained within this knowledge area include:

• What is a System?
• System Context
• Overview of System Science
• Systems Thinking

Introduction

The word system is used in all areas of human activity and at all levels but what do people mean when they use the word “system” and is there some part of the meaning that is common to all applications? These and similar questions, all relating to the use of the word “system” in everyday language, need to be given careful consideration if we are to achieve a clear understanding of the underlying concepts of systems thinking before specializing to the engineering context.

systems thinking is an approach to understanding or intervening in systems, based on the principles and concepts of systems. In this KA we give some basic definitions of systems thinking.

systems science is a collective term for a group of theory and practice developed by researchers and practitioners applying systems thinking to a range of problems. In this KA we provide an overview of the most important ideas in systems science.

References

Citations

None.

Primary References

Bertalanffy, L. von. 1968. General System Theory: Foundations, Development, Applications. Revised ed. New York, NY: Braziller.

Checkland, P. 1999. Systems Thinking, Systems Practice, New York, NY, USA: John Wiley & Sons.

Churchman, C. W. 1968. The Systems Approach and its Enemies. New York, NY, USA: Dell Publishing.

Flood, R. L. 1999. Rethinking the Fifth Discipline: Learning Within The Unknowable. London UK: Routledge.

INCOSE. 2011. INCOSE Systems Engineering Handbook: A Guide for System Life Cycle Processes and Activities, version 3.2.1. San Diego, CA, USA: International Council on Systems Engineering (INCOSE), INCOSE-TP-2003-002-03.2.1.

Additional References

No additional references have been identified for version 0.5. Please provide any recommendations on additional references in your review.

---

<- Previous Article | Parent Article | Next Article ->