ROOT DEFINITION
Charles François (2004). ROOT DEFINITION, International Encyclopedia of Systems and Cybernetics, 2(2): 2896.
| Collection | International Encyclopedia of Systems and Cybernetics |
|---|---|
| Year | 2004 |
| Vol. (num.) | 2(2) |
| ID | ◀ 2896 ▶ |
| Object type | General information, Methodology or model |
- “A concise, tightly constructed description of a human activity system which states what the system is” (R. RODRIGUEZ ULLOA, 1999)
- “What is does is then elaborated in a conceptual model which is built on the basis of the definition. Every element in the definition must be reflected in the model derived from it. A well formulated root definition will make explicit each of the CATWOE elements . A completely general root definition embodying CATWOE might take the following form:
- “A (…O…)-owned system which, under the following environmental constraints which it takes as given (…E…) transforms this input (…) into that output (…) by means of the following major activities , among others: (……), the transformation being carried out by these actors : (…A…) and directly affecting the following beneficiaries and/or victims (…C…). The world-image which makes this transformation meaningful contains at least the following elements among others: (…W…)”.
- “A root definition describes a notional system chosen for its relevance to what the investigator and/or the people in the problem situation perceive as matters of contention” (Ibid).