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Towards a System of Systems Concepts

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  • Russell L. Ackoff

    (University of Pennsylvania)

Abstract

The concepts and terms commonly used to talk about systems have not themselves been organized into a system. An attempt to do so is made here. System and the most important types of system are defined so that differences and similarities are made explicit. Particular attention is given to that type of system of most interest to management scientists: organizations. The relationship between a system and its parts is considered and a proposition is put forward that all systems are either variety-increasing or variety-decreasing relative to the behavior of its parts.

Suggested Citation

  • Russell L. Ackoff, 1971. "Towards a System of Systems Concepts," Management Science, INFORMS, vol. 17(11), pages 661-671, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:inm:ormnsc:v:17:y:1971:i:11:p:661-671
    DOI: 10.1287/mnsc.17.11.661
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    Cited by:

    1. Bukowski, L., 2016. "System of systems dependability – Theoretical models and applications examples," Reliability Engineering and System Safety, Elsevier, vol. 151(C), pages 76-92.
    2. Mingers, John, 2011. "Soft OR comes of age--but not everywhere!," Omega, Elsevier, vol. 39(6), pages 729-741, December.
    3. Wang, Yi & Shi, Si & Nevo, Saggi & Li, Shaorui & Chen, Yang, 2015. "The interaction effect of IT assets and IT management on firm performance: A systems perspective," International Journal of Information Management, Elsevier, vol. 35(5), pages 580-593.
    4. Polese, Francesco & Payne, Adrian & Frow, Pennie & Sarno, Debora & Nenonen, Suvi, 2021. "Emergence and phase transitions in service ecosystems," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 127(C), pages 25-34.
    5. Aladwani, Adel M., 2016. "Corruption as a source of e-Government projects failure in developing countries: A theoretical exposition," International Journal of Information Management, Elsevier, vol. 36(1), pages 105-112.
    6. Coccia, Mario, 2015. "General sources of general purpose technologies in complex societies: Theory of global leadership-driven innovation, warfare and human development," Technology in Society, Elsevier, vol. 42(C), pages 199-226.
    7. Granstrand, Ove & Holgersson, Marcus, 2020. "Innovation ecosystems: A conceptual review and a new definition," Technovation, Elsevier, vol. 90.
    8. Zia, Hina & Devadas, V., 2007. "Energy management in Lucknow city," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 35(10), pages 4847-4868, October.
    9. Avgerou, Chrisanthi, 2000. "Information systems: what sort of science is it?," Omega, Elsevier, vol. 28(5), pages 567-579, October.
    10. Wu, Jen-Her & Kao, Hao-Yun & Sambamurthy, Vallabh, 2016. "The integration effort and E-health compatibility effect and the mediating role of E-health synergy on hospital performance," International Journal of Information Management, Elsevier, vol. 36(6), pages 1288-1300.
    11. Töhönen, Harri & Kauppinen, Marjo & Männistö, Tomi & Itälä, Timo, 2020. "A conceptual framework for valuing IT within a business system," International Journal of Accounting Information Systems, Elsevier, vol. 36(C).
    12. Wieland, Andreas & Bals, Lydia & Mol, Michael J. & Handfield, Robert B., 2020. "Overcoming blind spots in global sourcing research: Exploiting the cross-sections between supply chain management and international business," Journal of International Management, Elsevier, vol. 26(1).
    13. Watson, Jim & Gross, Rob & Ketsopoulou, Ioanna & Winskel, Mark, 2015. "The impact of uncertainties on the UK's medium-term climate change targets," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 87(C), pages 685-695.
    14. Jaradat, Ra’ed M. & Keating, Charles B., 2014. "Fragility of oil as a critical infrastructure problem," International Journal of Critical Infrastructure Protection, Elsevier, vol. 7(2), pages 86-99.
    15. Robertson, Lindsay J. & Michael, Katina & Munoz, Albert, 2017. "Assessing technology system contributions to urban dweller vulnerabilities," Technology in Society, Elsevier, vol. 50(C), pages 83-92.
    16. Coccia, Mario, 2023. "New Perspectives in Innovation Failure Analysis: A taxonomy of general errors and strategic management for reducing risks," Technology in Society, Elsevier, vol. 75(C).
    17. Gudas, S., 1991. "A framework for research of information processing hierarchy in enterprise," Mathematics and Computers in Simulation (MATCOM), Elsevier, vol. 33(4), pages 281-285.
    18. Gupta, Ranjit & Mejia, Cristian & Kajikawa, Yuya, 2019. "Business, innovation and digital ecosystems landscape survey and knowledge cross sharing," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 147(C), pages 100-109.
    19. Guerrero de la Peña, Ana & Davendralingam, Navindran & Raz, Ali K. & DeLaurentis, Daniel & Shaver, Gregory & Sujan, Vivek & Jain, Neera, 2019. "Projecting line-haul truck technology adoption: How heterogeneity among fleets impacts system-wide adoption," Transportation Research Part E: Logistics and Transportation Review, Elsevier, vol. 124(C), pages 108-127.

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