SYSTEMS ANALYSIS: Its basic categories
| Collection | International Encyclopedia of Systems and Cybernetics |
|---|---|
| Year | 2004 |
| Vol. (num.) | 2(2) |
| ID | ◀ 3448 ▶ |
| Object type | General information, Epistemology, ontology or semantics, Methodology or model |
Ch. HITCH, quoted by I. BLAUBERG et al. lists the following “universal logical elements of systems analysis”, which BLAUBERG et al. consider to be categories:
1. A goal or set of goals
2. Alternetive means (“systems”) that can be used to reach the goal and are sets of systems elements or strategies;
3. Resource expenditures on the system:
4. A mathematical and logical model, i.e. a system of connections between the goals, alternative means, environment, and requirements imposed upon resources
5. The criterion by which the preferred alternatives are selected“ (in BLAUBERG et al., 1977, p.265).
Obviously, systems analysis is “ad hoc”: goals, means, models, etc… are selected by the analyst, in relation to his own goals, knowledge … and prejudices, and also probably those of the user of the system. This is unavoidable, of course, but should preferably not remain unknown from the analyst, nor from his “client”, nor shrouded from the view of other possible stakeholders.