General Systems Theory, Lecture notes of Information Systems

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General Systems Theory and its

Relevancy to Information Systems

Introduction to systems ideas

and their application to

information handling activities

Systems Theory

Overview

• (^) Systems theory was proposed in the 1940’s by biologist and philosopher Ludwig Von Bertalanffy.
• (^) He argued that real systems are open to , and interact with their environments.
• (^) Bertalanffy argued that a system is a “set of elements standing in interaction” or “a complex of interacting elements”
• (^) Systems theory is thus the interdisciplinary study of systems.
• (^) Systems theory focuses on the arrangement of and relations between the parts that are connected to the whole (holism)
• (^) Changing one part of the system affects other parts and the whole system, with predictable patterns of behaviour.
• (^) Systems exist to accomplish a common purpose (a work function) that also aids in the maintenance of the system or the operations may result in system failure.
• (^) Examples – The Nervous system, Circulatory System, Respiratory System, Hospital System, Banking System etc

General System Model

Input Process Output Feedba ck Target

System

Boundar

y

• (^) Input: Activity of gathering and capturing raw data
• (^) Processing : Converting data into useful outputs
• (^) Output : Producing useful information
• Feedback : Information from the system that is used to make changes to input or processing activities
• (^) Control mechanism – Makes adjustments to the system as per need. Provides some corrective mechanisms
• (^) Target/ Goal - defines the purpose for which all the system objects, attributes and relationships have been organized
• System Boundary - line that divides the system from its environment, this makes it possible to focus on a particular system within a hierarchy of systems. Can either be physical or logical

System Components

Organization –

• (^) Definition 1 - stable, formal social structure that takes resources from the environment & processes them to produce output.
• (^) Definition 2 - collection of rights, privileges, obligations & responsibilities that are delicately balanced over a period of time through conflict & conflict resolution. The organization as a System

Organisation; Definition 1

Capital and labor are the inputs, organization transforms these into products and services , which are consumed by the environments as outputs in return for supply inputs

• Definition: A set of interrelated

components that collect , manipulate ,

store, and disseminate data and

information and provide feedback to

meet an objective.

• Information Systems are designed for the

management and provision of

information for decision-making and for

supporting day-to-day activities of

organizations (systems).

Information Systems

• (^) People
  • Accountants
  • Systems Analyst
  • Programmer
  • Technician
  • Engineer (Network, Software)
  • MIS (Manager of Information Systems)
  • Data Entry clerks
• (^) Equipment
  • "Hardware AND Software" and associated Networks
• (^) Procedures
• (^) Series of documented actions taken to achieve a set target, can be quite complex and involved, such as performing a backup, shutting down a system, patching software.
• (^) Data
• (^) The raw, un-organized, discrete, potentially-useful facts and figures that are later processed (manipulated) to produce information. Basic Components of Information Systems