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What is a System? Unit One Tools for Systems Thinking What is a system? A system is a group of interacting interrelated interdependent components that form a complex and unified whole Examples of systems you know Your body is a system The marketing department of a company is a system The economy is a system Defining characteristics of a system A system’s parts must all be present for the system to carry out its purpose optimally. Your body, minus your head will not function optimally, for example. Defining characteristics of a system A system’s parts must be arranged in a specific way for the system to carry out its purpose. Your body, with your spine relocated to the outside of the back will work differently. Defining characteristics of a system Systems have specific purposes within larger systems. Your nervous system, digestive and circulatory system are a part of the system of your body, which is a part of the system of your family, which is a part of the system of your community… and so on. Defining characteristics of a system Systems maintain their stability through fluctuations and adjustments. Your body constantly regulates itself through a series of adjustments that control temperature, for example. Defining characteristics of a system Systems have feedback. Your body changes temperature because it gets information to do so (feedback) from several sources, to the brain. When your body adjusts, it knows when to stop adjusting through feedback. That is, the body ‘talks to itself.’ Which of these is NOT a system—and why? A A A A garden society bowl of fruit pile of laundry The last 2 are not systems A bowl of fruit and a pile of laundry are not systems They do not generate feedback to themselves They do not adjust through fluctuations They will function more or less the same in most any order