Information systems

What is a system?

A system is a collection on interrelated components that work together to perform a specific task or achieve a goal. In a system, the different components are connected with each other and they are interdependent. Each component is a subsystem of the original system and carries out a part of the system task.

For example, the human body represents a complete natural system. Our human body contains complex muscle, bone, respiratory, digestive and circulatory subsystems, each providing a specific part of the system task.

Let us consider the respiratory subsystem which provides air to the body from the environment. Some of the components of the respiratory subsystem includes nasal passages, lungs etc. Each component, such as lungs, can it self be considered as a subsystems. Similarly, the heart and blood vessels can be considered as components of the circulatory subsystems.

What is the goal of the circulatory subsystems? The digestive subsystems? List some components of circulatory and digestive subsystems.                     

                                          
Another example of a system is a school. Principal, teacher, students, equipment and classrooms are components of a school.

A system can also play the role of a subsystem to build more complex systems. For example, a school mat be a subsystem f the educational system of a country. A university may be another subsystem. Viewing complex systems as a collection of subsystems may help us handle complexity and improve our understanding of the system.