What is a System? An Ontological Framework

Abstract

Over the past decades, the definition of system has eluded researchers and practitioners. We reviewed over 100 definitions of system to understand the variations and establish a framework for a widely acceptable system definition or a family of system definitions. There is much common ground in different families of definitions of system, but there are also important and significant ontological differences. Some differences stem from the variety of belief systems and worldviews, while others have risen within particular communities. Both limit the effectiveness of system communities’ efforts to communicate, collaborate, and learn from others’ experience. We consider three ontological elements: (1) a worldview‐based framework for typology of different system types and categories, (2) key system concepts that are fundamental to the various system types and categories, and (3) appropriate language for the target audience. In this work, we establish the ontological framework, list key concepts associated with different types of system, and point to a direction for agreeing on an integrated set of system definitions in a neutral language consistent with the framework. The definitions are compatible with both the realist and constructivist worldviews, covering real (physical, concrete) and conceptual (abstract, logical, informatical) systems, which are both human‐made (artificial) and naturally occurring, using language acceptable to a wide target stakeholder audience. The contribution of this paper is setting up an ontologically founded framework of system typologies, providing definitions for system, and identifying the issues involved in achieving a widely accepted definition or family of definitions of system.

Research needs in systems engineering: Report from a University of Alabama in Huntsville workshop

“…Of course, perspectives regarding a definition of MBSE are highly influenced by how other concepts are viewed. Definitions vary even for topics as foundational to SE as what a system is . While research in MBSE covers far more than simply model integration, gaps can exist between the research and the perception in other areas of the community.…”

“…Definitions vary even for topics as foundational to SE as what a system is. 27 While research in MBSE covers far more than simply model integration, gaps can exist between the research and the perception in other areas of the community. For some, the goal of MBSE is replacement of verbal specification with mathematical specifications.…”

Modeling and structuring design rationale to enable knowledge reuse

“…It appears that the system description is largely the most important missing piece of the puzzle. Dori and Sillitto (p215) define a system as follows –

A group of parts combined in a way that creates one or more emergent property or capabilities not possessed by the separate parts .

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“…The focus of our research is on a real system, which is defined as follows.

Two or more elements interacting in physical space‐time to create emergent properties, capabilities, functions or effects that the elements in isolation cannot achieve . (p215)

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Systems Thinking Methodological Approach for Evaluating Pre-College Outreach (RTP)

“…The benefit of systems thinking is that it can be used in any context or discipline, as long as a system exists within the discipline (Cabrera et al, 2008). While there is no singular definition of a system, we will utilize Dori & Sillitto's (2017) definition which states that a system is "a group of parts combined in a way that creates one or more emergent properties or capabilities not possessed by the separate parts" (p.22). Systems are everywhere.…”