Systems are the interconnection between structure and ensuing patterns of behavior
A system is “an interconnected set of elements that is coherently organized in a way that achieves something.”[1] The patterns of behavior that ensue from the system are the result of the system’s structure.
Once we see the relationship between structure and behavior, we can begin to understand how systems work, what makes them produce poor results, and how to shift them into better behavior patterns. … So, what is a system? A system is a set of things—people, cells, molecules, or whatever—interconnected in such a way that they produce their own pattern of behavior over time.[2]
See also:
- Systems thinking is a discipline for seeing inter-relationships
- Systems Thinking perceives the relationships and structure of complex systems
Thinking in Systems – Meadows (2008), § “Introduction.” ↩︎
Ibid. ↩︎