Week 2

Question 1

System

Answer 1

A system is a collection of interrelated components that function together to achieve
some predefined purposes or objectives.

Question 2

Component

Answer 2

a part, or aggregation of parts, of a system, commonly referred to as a subsystem;

Question 3

Interrelated components

Answer 3

the dependency of one subsystem on one or more
other subsystems. Subsystems are related and usually interact with each other in order to achieve their pre-declared objectives, within their environment;

Question 4

Boundary

Answer 4

the line that distinguishes the inside from the outside of a system and so distinguishes the system from its environment;

Question 5

Environment

Answer 5

everything external to a system that interacts with the system;

Question 6

Interfaces

Answer 6

points of contact where a system meets its environment or where subsystems meet each other;

Question 7

Inputs

Answer 7

whatever a system takes from its environment in order to fulfil its purpose

Question 8

Outputs

Answer 8

whatever a system returns to its environment in order to fulfil its
purpose

Question 9

Constraints

Answer 9

limits or conditions within which a system can accomplish its objectives;

Question 10

Open and closed systems

Answer 10

Systems can be classified on a continuum between the extremes of open systems
and closed systems. Open systems interact freely with their environments, taking in
inputs and returning outputs. Closed systems don’t interact with their environments,
so changes in the environment do not affect the system.

Question 11

Systems thinking

Answer 11

Business problem solvers, sometimes referred to as “systems analysts”, use the nine
systems characteristics to understand, in a holistic way, business situations. They
consider businesses as if they were open systems. This is termed applying “systems
thinking” to a business situation.

Question 12

The key system characteristics

Answer 12

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