Systems Theory

Summary

Systems theory is often referred as system science. It is interdisciplinary study of systems in common terms. Main goal of such studies is to discover new patterns and elucidating principles. Such principles are meant to be derived from and applied to almost any kind of system in all fields of research. These principles can be applied on such fields up to nesting levels. System theory or system science is often considered specialization of system thinking. The principles derived from it are simply gold output of this science of system or systems theory and systems engineering. It uses the emphasis on generality. Such emphasis is useful across a wide system range. When compared to particular models of individual fields, the common emphasis can be applied over wider range of systems.

Central topic of this theory is systems. The systems hold a self-correcting architecture. Feedback is used in order to perform such self-correction over the systems and by the systems themselves (quite confusing, isn’t it?). Such self-regulating systems can be found in nature. Here, term “nature” also includes human body’s physiological systems, global ecosystems, local ecosystems, climate and human learning processes as well. Including human or any individual living being is approved or allowed by many international organizations such as UN (United Nations).

Systems theory is originated from General System Theory (GST) developed by Bertalanffy. Systems theory can be used in many other fields. These fields or terms include action theory and social theory. Moreover, the action theory was developed by Talcott Parsons and the social systems theory was developed by Niklas Luhmann.

Multiple diverse fields or areas provided base knowledge in development of contemporary ideas of systems theory. Following are some of these many fields and studies along with their researchers:

• Exemplification by the work of Ludwig von Bertalanffy. He was a researcher in the field of biology.


• Linguist Bela H. Banathy


• Talcott Parsons in sociology


• Howard T. Odum in ecological systems


• Eugene Odum, Fritjof Capra, Peter Senge in the field of organizational theory and management


• Debora Hammond, Alfonso Montuori and Richard A. Swanson in the field of Human Resource Development and Interdisciplinary theories.


• In the terms of transdisciplinary, interdisciplinary and multiperspectival domain, concept of systems theory brings together many principles from ontology, scientific philosophy, physics, computer science, biology, engineering, sociology, geography, political science, psychotherapy and economics.

Thus, it is said that systems theory acts as a link for interdisciplinary dialogs that transfer between autonomous areas of study. These areas also cover systems science itself.