🧩 Systems Theory — Intro#

Scope — Foundational ideas for understanding systems as interacting wholes rather than isolated parts.

Key concepts#

• System — a set of interacting components forming an organized whole.
• Boundary — distinction between a system and its environment.
• Inputs and outputs — flows of matter, energy, or information across system boundaries.

Seed Q&A triads#

• Q: What makes something a system rather than a collection of parts?
  A: Interactions among parts produce behaviors or functions that depend on the whole, not just the components.

• Q: Why are system boundaries important?
  A: Boundaries define what is included in analysis and determine which interactions and feedbacks are considered.

• Q: What is the difference between open and closed systems?
  A: Open systems exchange matter, energy, or information with their environment; closed systems do not.

Quick activities#

• Identify a familiar system (ecosystem, organization, machine) and list its components, boundary, inputs, and outputs.