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Introduction to System Concepts Overview

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149 views6 pages

Introduction to System Concepts Overview

Uploaded by

kamblevaishnavi776
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© All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Ch 1 Introduction to System Concepts

Content:

1.1 Definition

1.2 Basic Components

1.3 Elements of the System

1.4 Types of System

1.5 System Characteristics

Introduction:
 The Word ‘System’ means different things to different things to different people.
 A system is a group of interrelated components working together towards a common goal,
by accepting inputs and producing outputs in an organized transformation process.
 The interrelated components which are systematically arranged to form a system are called
subsystems.
 In simple words, system is a set of elements which operate together to accomplish an
objective.
 Systems may be physical, like the sun and its planets; biological like the human body;
technological, like an oil refinery; and socio-economic, like a business organization. System
concepts underlie the field of information systems.
 In everyday life, we talk of education system, computer system, solar system, transportation
system, communication system, the body’s nervous system, weapons system, accounting
system, production system and so on.

1.1 Definition:
 A System is an integrated collection of components which satisfy function necessary to
archive the system’s goals and which have relationships to one another that give cohesion
to the system and define its structure.
 System can be defined as a group of interrelated or interacting elements forming a unified
whole.
 It may be either physical or abstract.
 An abstract system is an orderly arrangement of interdependent ideas or contracts.
 But a physical system is defined as a set of elements which operate together to accomplish a
goal; it is made up of objects such as land, building, machines, people and other tangible things.
 A system can also be understood as an organized or complex whole, an assemblage or
combination of things or parts forming a complex or unitary whole.

General Model of System


1.2 Basic components:
 Every system has a set of interrelated elements or basic components.
 The basic components are simply the various identifiable parts of a system.
 They are the moving parts of system.
 Thus the basic components may be men, materials, machine, information, concepts
or energy.
 For eg:
System Basic Components
Education Students, Teachers, building, Administration, Text books
Philosophy Ideas, People
Keyboard, Display unit, Arithmetic unit, Logic unit, Programs,
Computer
Magnetic Discs
Defence Men, Equipment, Building, Rules
Accounting Records, Rules, Procedures, Equipment and Personnel
1.3 Elements of System:

 Input: Inputs are the information that enters into the system for processing.
 Output: The main objective of a system is to get an output which is helpful for its
user. Output is the final outcome of processing.
 Process: Process is defined as the activity that makes possible the transformation of
input to output.
 Components: An irreducible part or aggregation of parts that makes up a system;
also called a subsystem.
 Interrelated components: Dependence of one part of the system on one or more
other system parts.
 Boundary: The line that marks the inside and outside of a system and that sets off
the system from its environment.
 Purpose: The overall goal or function of a system.
 Environment: Everything external to a system that interacts with the system.
 Interfaces: Point of contact where a system meets its environment or where
subsystems meet each other.
 Constraints: A limit to what a system can accomplish.

1.4 Types of System:


 In General, systems fall into a number of categories.
 Conceptual and Physical System:
 System can be abstract (Conceptual or analytical) or physical (empirical).
 An abstract or conceptual system is an orderly arrangement of independent ideas.
 Conceptual systems are concerned with theoretical structures which may or may
not have counterpart in the real world.
 Economic theory, Philosophy, Non-Euclidean geometry, Abstract Algebra and
General Theory of Relativity are examples of conceptual systems. Thus conceptual
systems are system of explanation or ideas or constructs. I
 In practical management affairs, plan, accounting system structures, classification of
policies and procedures are conceptual systems.
 Physical or Empirical systems are generally concrete operational systems made up
of people materials, machines energy and other physical things.
 Physical system can display activity or behavior. Management information system,
computer system Business Organizations are physical systems.

 Deterministic and Probabilistic System:


 System can also be classified as deterministic or probabilistic.
 A Deterministic system operates in a predictable manner.
 If one knows the state of the system at a given point of time then it is a deterministic
system if one can predict the next state without error.
 In a computer system the outputs are deterministic.
 For example, the economic forecasting is probabilistic. Similarly, in an inventory
system, average demand, lead time etc. are probabilistic.

 Open and Closed Systems:


 An Open system is one that interacts with the environment.
 A business organization is an open system because it exchanges men, material,
money and information with the environment. An open system does not provide for
its own control or modification. It does not supervise itself. It needs to be supervised
by people.
 If the high speed printers used with computer systems do not have a switch to sense
whether paper is in the printer, then a person would have to notice when the paper
runs out and signal (push a switch) the system to stop printing.
 A Closed system is a system which is self-contained.
 It does not exchange material, information or energy with its environment.
 In a Daniel cell, chemical reaction takes place in a sealed, insulated container.
 Such closed systems will finally run down or become disorganized.
 In fact what constitutes a closed system is very difficult to judge.
 In organizations and in information systems, we come across systems that are
relatively closed.
 A computer system is a relatively closed system.
 A relatively closed system is one that has only controlled and well defined inputs
and outputs. It is not subject to disturbances from outside the system.
 Natural and Artificial Systems:
 Solar system, Water System and Human being as a system are examples of Natural
system.
 A business organization, computer system, air conditioning system, social system,
economic system, and management information system is examples of Artificial
systems.

 Man – Machine System:


 Normally, most of the artificial systems are man – machine systems.
 A motor car is a machine system. But motor-car cannot work without a person.
Computer system is machine system. Information system is a man-machine,
relatively closed and deterministic system.

1.5 System Characteristics:


 There are five types of characteristics for a system. Such as,
1. Organization
2. Interaction
3. Interdependence
4. Integration
5. A central objective

 ORGANIZATION:
 This implies structure and order.
 It can also be defined as the arrangement of components that help to achieve
objectives.
 For example, Hierarchical system in a company.

 INTERACTION:
 This shows the manner in which each component functions with other components
of the system.
 It specifies there should be an interrelationship between every component of a
system.
 For example, the main memory holds the data that has to be operated by the ALU.

 INTERDEPENDENCE:
 This means the components of a computer system depend on one another.
 Each component should depend on other components of the system.
 One component depends on the input of another component for proper functioning.
 The output of one subsystem is the required input for another subsystem.
 For example, A decision to computerize an application is initiated by the user,
analyzed and designed by the analyst, programmed and tested by the computer
operator. None of the persons can perform properly without the required input
from others in the computer center subsystem.

 INTEGRATION:
 It is concerned with how a system is tied together.
 It is more than sharing physical components or locations.
 It means that components of the system work together within the system even
though each component performs a unique function.

 CENTRAL OBJECTIVE:
 Systems always have a central goal.
 These goals may be real or stated.
 The important point is that users must know the central objective of a computer
application early in the analysis for a successful design and conversion.

Common questions

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Interdependence means each component within a system relies on one another for proper functionality, as the output of one becomes the input for another . Integration ensures that these components work together cohesively, allowing each part to perform its function while contributing to the system's overall objectives . Together, interdependence and integration ensure that the system functions as a cohesive unit rather than disparate parts.

Open systems interact with their environment extensively, necessitating decision-making processes that account for external changes and feedback to adapt strategies; this enhances innovation and responsiveness but poses risks of increased complexity . Closed systems, with limited external interaction, allow for more control and efficiency in decision-making but can lead to rigidity and reduced adaptability due to a lack of relevant external stimuli . Both systems require balance to optimize advantages while mitigating drawbacks.

The boundary of a system defines its limits and differentiates it from the environment, dictating how it interacts with external entities. Systems with well-defined boundaries, such as closed systems, have limited interaction with their environments, reducing external disturbances. Conversely, open systems interact more freely with their environments, exchanging materials, energy, or information; this enhances adaptability but also introduces external influences .

Natural systems like the solar or water systems inherently support human life by regulating environments and resources, while artificial systems such as business organizations or management information systems are designed to optimize human activities and objectives like resource management and decision-making . The integration relies on feedback loops where human activities can affect natural systems (e.g., pollution) and artificial systems are continuously recalibrated based on human inputs to meet evolving goals.

Understanding the central objective of a system is crucial during the analysis and design phases as it guides the system's components' structure, ensuring they collectively fulfill the intended purpose. This clarity facilitates successful design and conversion by ensuring all stakeholders align with the desired outcomes and prevents misalignment in functionalities or goals, crucial for a system's success .

Interfaces serve as the points of contact where a system interacts with its environment or where subsystems connect with each other. They enable the flow of information, energy, or materials necessary for interdependence and integration, facilitating the system's ability to adapt to external changes while ensuring internal coherence .

Organization refers to the structured arrangement of a system's components, ensuring they are ordered to achieve objectives, whereas interaction pertains to how these components work with each other. Effective organization provides the framework for system functionality, while interaction ensures dynamic cooperation among components, both of which are critical for overall effectiveness . For example, a hierarchical company structure (organization) facilitates efficient communication and task coordination (interaction) among employees, enhancing productivity.

Deterministic systems operate in a predictable manner where the future state can be accurately predicted if the current state is known, such as computer systems . Probabilistic systems have outcomes that cannot be precisely predicted and rely on probabilities, like economic forecasting and inventory systems, where variables involved lead to varying outcomes based on statistical likelihoods .

Conceptual systems, such as theories or philosophies, are formed from abstract ideas and constructs without tangible presence, focusing mainly on explanation or theoretical frameworks . Physical systems, like business organizations or technical setups, consist of tangible components working together to achieve specific physical goals . In application, conceptual systems guide understanding and exploration of principles, whereas physical systems provide concrete solutions to operational problems.

Man-machine systems integrate human intuition and decision-making with machine efficiency and precision. Mechanisms such as feedback loops and user interfaces allow humans to input data and make strategic adjustments while machines perform repetitive, high-speed processing tasks. The complementarity ensures tasks are completed efficiently through division of roles that leverage human creativity with machine computational power, maintaining overall system performance and effectiveness .

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