Types of systems

We use the term system rather loosely, but what is a system-really? By definition, it's a group of components, working together, to achieve a common objective. The term was coined by Ludwig von Bertallanfy, a State University of New York professor, back in 1953. By his definition, a system is

any group of components,

assembled in a particular fashion,

working together to achieve a common objective.

A car tire is not a system. Even for car tires are not a system. However, four car tires mounted on an automobile become portions of an automobile, a transportation system.

From Systems Theory

So let's examine what types of systems there can be.

There can be electromechanical systems, such as automobiles or ATM machines that show us our bank balance, or the notebook computer that runs our Microsoft Office. To give a very simple example, take a look at the light bulb. . There are several components working together: the glass housing, the he electrical contacts, the inert gas inside, the filaments that light up - these are the components. They transform electricity from a battery or a wall plug into visible light.

There can be software systems, little groups of zeros and ones that make the electromechanical systems work, such as Microsoft Office, or the software system which computes your bank balance which is displayed on the ATM.

There are biological systems such as people, like us, that have billions of cells doing specific functions, like nerves or our digestive system, working together to keep us alive. Even one celled plants and animals are complex, living systems that contains cell membranes, a cell nucleus, DNA and many other cellular components.

There are also systems that we shall call socials systems. Educational systems take in uneducated, uninformed students and produce educated graduates. Governmental systems take in taxes and produce goods and services for society. There are even social systems among animals. And it's form colonies and bees form hives where different members of the society are responsible for different functions.