ACT of a system
Charles François (2004). ACT of a system, International Encyclopedia of Systems and Cybernetics, 2(1): 9.
| Collection | International Encyclopedia of Systems and Cybernetics |
|---|---|
| Year | 2004 |
| Vol. (num.) | 2(1) |
| ID | ◀ 9 ▶ |
| Object type | General information |
- “A system event for the occurrence of which no change in the system's environment is either necessary or sufficient” (R.L. ACKOFF, 1972 a).
R.L. ACKOFF comments: “Acts, therefore, are self-determined events, autonomous changes. Internal changes — in the states of a system's elements — are both necessary and sufficient to bring about action. Much of the behavior of human beings is of this type, but such behavior is not restricted to humans. A computer, for example, may have its states changed or change the state of its environment because of its own program” (Ibid).
Systems able to 'act' in this sense are autonomous, i.e.:
- in P. VENDRYES' terms, able to determine their own behavior, up to a point;
- in H. MATURANA and F. VARELA's terms, endowed with organizational closure, i. e. able to maintain their identity and internal organization.