Systems are composed of a lot of parts that are interconnected with each other.
Changing one part of the system (interconnections or function/purpose) will affect the entire system.
How a system is structured is going to determine its behavior. This means that the system is more dependent on the connection of its parts rather than the parts themselves.
- For example, A toothbrush and toothpaste individually don’t make clean teeth. It’s the relationship of the toothbrush, toothpaste, and brushing that makes teeth clean.
System relationships are dynamic. They change over time, and thus system behavior is hard to predict.
There are three types of delays (perception, response, and delivery) that can happen within a system, which makes systems mapping more challenging.
The major behavior dynamics are controlled through feedback loops. There are two types of feedback loops: reinforcing and balancing.
Complex problems can’t be solved with reductionist thinking. Systems thinking can solve complex problems by mapping out systems dynamics, emphasizing the effect of feedback loops, and coming up with various solutions and possible outcomes as consequence.
Note:
- Cybernatics mostly studies about feedback loops, control, communication, and adaptation within systems. Systems Thinking looks at the whole system and its relationships.