Ackoff

Creating the Corporate Future

15 Definition
“A system is a set of two or more elements that satisfies the following three conditions.
1 The behavior of each element has an effect on the behavior of the whole.
2 The behavior of the elements and their effects on the whole are interdependent.
3 However subgroups of the elements are formed, each has an effect on the behavior of the whole and
none has an independent effect on it.” (italics original Ackoff Creating 15)

16 properties of a system
“The essential properties of a system taken as a whole derive from the interactions of its parts, not
their actions taken separately. Therefore, when a system is taken apart it loses its essential properties.
Because of this—and this is the critical point—a system is a whole that cannot be understood by
analysis” (italics original Ackoff Creating 16).

Ackoff refers to analysis as machine-age thinking with three steps:

1 take apart that which is to be explained
2 explain the parts separately
3 compile those explanations of parts together into an explanation of the whole

only that third part is synthesis

in systems approach, use synthesis:

1 identify the system/whole which contains the thing to be explained (the system which contains the
thing to be explained)
2 explain the containing whole behavior and/or properties
3 explain the thing-to-be-explained's role(s) and function(s) in that in which it is contained

104
3 properties of an idealized design of a system
1 technologically feasible
2 operationally viable
3 capable of rapid learning & adaption (105—near quote Ackoff Creating 16).

210
Models
“Models are simplified representations of reality. They come in three basic forms and combinations
thereof: iconic, analogue, and symbolic. An iconic model is one in which the relevant properties of
reality are represented by the same properties, usually, but not necessarily, with a change of scale. In
analogues, the real properties are represented by others that are easier to manipulate. In symbolic
models the properties and the relationships between them are represented by symbols” (Ackoff
Creating 210).

235
product development & testing planning chart/example
244-5 Summary and Conclusion

245
a system is a “set of elements that cannot be separated into independent parts” ( Ackoff Creating 245).
Several things follow:
when taken apart physically or conceptually, the key properties are lost
when parts are taken away from the whole physically or conceptually, the key properties are also lost