A system is a set of interacting or interdependent components forming an integrated whole. A system is a group of subsystems that work together to achieve a common goal. The concept of a system can be applied to any kind of physical entity, from organisms and machines to organizations and societies.
In the sciences, the word “system” often refers to something much more specific: a complex network of elements that interact with each other in order to produce some desired outcome. For example, in ecology, a system might be the collection of all the organisms living in a particular ecosystem; in physiology, it might be the various organs and tissues that make up the human body; in psychology, it might be the different parts of the brain and how they interact with each other.
Systems thinking is an approach to problem-solving that focuses on understanding how things are interconnected. It aims to see problems as part of larger systems rather than as isolated events. This type of thinking has been applied in fields as diverse as education, business, architecture, engineering, and government.
The study of systems is interdisciplinary by nature, drawing on concepts from mathematics, physics, biology, social science, and engineering. Systems theory was first developed by German biologist Ludwig von Bertalanffy in the 1930s with his General System Theory (GST). GST proposed that systems could be classified according to their purpose or function: open systems exchange matter or energy with their surroundings; closed systems are isolated from their surroundings; and dissipative systems do work while also exchanging matter or energy with their surroundings.
Since then, many different types of systems have been identified and studied by scientists across disciplines. Some common examples include biological systems (such as cells), ecological systems (such as ecosystems), social systems (such as families), economic systems (such as market economies), political systems (such as governments), intellectualsystems (such as scientific theories), technicalsystems (suchas computers) ,and conceptualsystems(suchas religions).