System                                                           Work in Progress

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Introduction

There are many types of systems and uses for systems.  It is a fundamental concept that is both difficult to pin down and essential to everyday life.  The study of systems has its own discipline called "systems theory" or "systems dynamics" and goes back many years before these terms were adopted into common usage.

Understanding [Word]

"System distinguished from management. When planned methods of procedure are applied to the operations of a business, the result is system. A business may be 'organized' and still lack system in its operation. It is the function of management to perfect an efficient organization of the business and apply an effective system to its operations. Management is the ultimate control that gives direction to the planned procedure."

-- McCarty, Dwight G. (1946)

"System is a valuable and distinct mechanism and an aid, both to organization and to management, but is in no way synonymous with either."

-- John H. MacDonald, Office Management, page 26. New Yourk: Prentice-Hall, Inc., 1937.

ITIL's definition

See Also

References

Working notes