What is ‘Systems’?

The concept of ‘system’ embodies the notion of a collection of elements connected together to form a whole. Systems thinking uses this concept to help understand the world. Central to the approach are the ideas of emergence and hierarchy, and communication and control. Systems practice employs systems ideas to design and manage complex processes and artefacts for the benefit of individuals, organisations and society.

Why is ‘Systems’ useful?

Conventional scientific method seeks to reduce its object of inquiry into elementary parts. This mode of investigation runs into difficulties when faced with highly complex, real-world problems set in social context. Systems thinking complements scientific method by dealing with such complexities. It has been successfully applied in engineering, the information and decision sciences, management and the human and social sciences.

Resources - this is a collection of systems thinking Web sites and other useful material.

Journals - is a directory of relevant journals for systems thinking.

Centres of excellence - details of some of the main centres conducting work in systems thinking.