Difference between revisions of "System (glossary)"

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<blockquote>(2) “(A system is a)combination of interacting [[System Element (glossary)|system elements]] organized to achieve one or more stated purposes.” (ISO/IEC/IEEE.).</blockquote>''
 
<blockquote>(2) “(A system is a)combination of interacting [[System Element (glossary)|system elements]] organized to achieve one or more stated purposes.” (ISO/IEC/IEEE.).</blockquote>''
 
<blockquote>(3) “A system is a value-delivering object” (Dori 2002). </blockquote>''
 
  
 
====Source====
 
====Source====
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(2) ISO/IEC/IEEE. 2008. Systems and Software Engineering - System Life Cycle Processes. Geneva, Switzerland: International Organization for Standardization (ISO)/International Electronical Commission (IEC), Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers. ISO/IEC/IEEE 15288:2008 (E). The second definition is an expanded version of the ISO/IEC/IEEE version.
 
(2) ISO/IEC/IEEE. 2008. Systems and Software Engineering - System Life Cycle Processes. Geneva, Switzerland: International Organization for Standardization (ISO)/International Electronical Commission (IEC), Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers. ISO/IEC/IEEE 15288:2008 (E). The second definition is an expanded version of the ISO/IEC/IEEE version.
 
(3) Dori, D. Object-Process Methodology – A Holistic Systems Paradigm, Springer Verlag, Berlin, Heidelberg, New York, 2002 [[http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/3540654712/sr=8-1/qid=1146053424/ref=sr_1_1/104-2484506-3323967?_encoding=UTF8]]
 
  
 
===Discussion===
 
===Discussion===
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Definition (1) is the System Science definition and applies to all systems: natural, social or technical.
 
Definition (1) is the System Science definition and applies to all systems: natural, social or technical.
  
Definition (2) is the recognized definition for Systems Engineers, elements in this sense may include hardware, software, firmware, people, information, techniques, facilities, services, related natural artifacts and other support elements.  This definition should be restricted to [[Engineered System (glossary)|Engineered Systems (glossary)]]
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Definition (2) is the recognized definition for Systems Engineers, elements in this sense may include hardware, software, firmware, people, information, techniques, facilities, services, related natural artifacts and other support elements.  This definition should be restricted to [[Engineered System (glossary)|Engineered Systems (glossary)]] which are created with a purpose which provides value to one or more beneficiaries.  
 
 
Definition (3) is related to an artificial, human-made system, which is created with a goal in mind. That goal is to enable the system to function such that it provides value to one or more beneficiaries.
 
 
 
The function of the system is its top-level process, i.e., the process which creates the external value which the beneficiary is designed to enjoy.  
 
  
 
See [[What is a System?]] for a full discussion of the nature of systems in general and the scope of Engineered Systems of particular interest to Systems Engineering.
 
See [[What is a System?]] for a full discussion of the nature of systems in general and the scope of Engineered Systems of particular interest to Systems Engineering.

Revision as of 22:27, 28 August 2012

(1) "A System is a set of elements and a set of inter-relationships between the elements such that they form a bounded whole relative to the elements around them." (von Bertalanffy 1968)

(2) “(A system is a)combination of interacting system elements organized to achieve one or more stated purposes.” (ISO/IEC/IEEE.).

Source

(1) von Bertalanffy, L. 1968. "General System Theory: Foundations, Development, Applications." Revised ed. New York, NY, USA: George Braziller, Inc.

(2) ISO/IEC/IEEE. 2008. Systems and Software Engineering - System Life Cycle Processes. Geneva, Switzerland: International Organization for Standardization (ISO)/International Electronical Commission (IEC), Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers. ISO/IEC/IEEE 15288:2008 (E). The second definition is an expanded version of the ISO/IEC/IEEE version.

Discussion

Definition (1) is the System Science definition and applies to all systems: natural, social or technical.

Definition (2) is the recognized definition for Systems Engineers, elements in this sense may include hardware, software, firmware, people, information, techniques, facilities, services, related natural artifacts and other support elements. This definition should be restricted to engineered systems which are created with a purpose which provides value to one or more beneficiaries.

See What is a System? for a full discussion of the nature of systems in general and the scope of Engineered Systems of particular interest to Systems Engineering.

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