Thing

Some Definitions:

Thing

an object that one need not, cannot, or does not wish to give a specific name to

Also known as: Entity.

Object

Anything perceivable or conceivable

System

an abstract object that contains two or more interacting subsystems that create whole system properties and is a subsystem of one or more suprasystems.

System-of-Interest

A named thing is identified by a set of stakeholders to be explored as a system. The abstract system pattern is translated into a concrete system hierarchy with named suprasystems and subsystems. The named system-of-Interest establishes a boundary between the relevant subsystems in a suprasystem and the subsystems in the system-of-interest.

Russell L. Ackoff Analysis and Synthesis Steps

The three steps of analysis and synthesis:

  • In analysis, something that we want to understand is first taken apart.
    In synthesis, that which we want to understand is first identified as a part of one or more larger systems.

  • In the second step of analysis, an effort is made to understand the behavior of each part of a system taken separately.
    In the second step of synthesis, an effort is made to understand the function of the larget system(s) of which the whole is a part.

  • In analysis, the understanding of the parts of the system to be understood is then aggregated in an effort to explain the behavior or properties of the whole.
    In synthesis, the understanding of the larger containing system is then disaggregated to identify the role or function of the system to be understood.

Analysis of a system reveals its structure and how it works. It provides the knowledge required to make it work efficiently and to repair it when it stops working. ... The behavior of a corporation can only be understood by being aware of its functions in society, for example, the production and distribution of wealth.

Note: from Re-Creating the Corporation

The concept of a thing is important to the concepts of a system. A thing:

  • May be physical or conceptual

  • Consists of energy, matter and or information.

  • May have a definite life-cycle (e.g. birth to death, creation to destruction).

  • The time frames for the existence of a thing may vary.

A thing may have a body of knowledge that has been developed by people using their perception to understand a thing. This body of knowledge may or may not be written down. The body of knowledge may also have a cultural influence (see Chapter 10, GST). A thing may have an operational use or purpose and may work with other things.

Finally, a thing may or may not know that it can be considered as a system.