TECHNOLOGICAL INSTITUTE

DE
COLIMA

Unit 2 Properties and Characteristics of the

Systems
Subject: Systems Engineering

Hernández Martinez Luis Martín

Room: W3
Professor: Eng. Jesús Francisco Tejeda Castrejón.

April 13, 2016

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Introduction.................................................................3
2.1. Properties of Systems………………………………………………….4
2.1.1. Structure……………………………………………………………………….5
2.1.2. Emergency............................................................5

2.1.3. Communication......................................................6

2.1.4. Synergy………………………………………………………………………….7
2.1.5. Homeostasis
2.1.6. Equifinality…………………………………………………………………...10
2.1.7. Entropy....................................................................10

2.1.8. Emergency…………………………………………………………………….12
2.1.9. Control................................................12

2.1.10. Law of Required Variety………………………………………13

2.2. Organization of Complex Systems..........................14
2.2.1. Supra-Systems………………………………………………………………..14
2.2.2. Infra-Systems...............................................14

2.2.3. Iso-Systems……………………………………………………………………15
2.2.4. Hetero-Systems
Conclusion……………………………………………………………………………..17
Bibliographic References…………………………………………………………..18

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Introduction
The human being has always been immersed in a world where everything shapes it,
a system or is part of one. Given this, the human being has tried to provide a
logical explanation for everything it does, through the observation of its
characteristics and their properties.

As with any composition, it is important to know its characteristics and its

properties, that is why in the following work the different ones are shown
properties and characteristics that systems possess, such as their structure,
its communication, its synergy and its control, its emergence, among others, in order to
to better understand the behaviors that may arise in
a system, where you can improve, maintain, or start it.
Like any system, it is necessary to have a structure to know the distribution that
they have their parts and have order when the system is working, it is also
it is necessary to have control over what the system does, but for this to be carried out
It is necessary to have good communication with all those aspects, and
to be able to achieve the main objective of the system.

Every system needs feedback to improve over time.

to have an optimal and better job, in order to achieve better feedback is
necessary to have constant communication with the outside as well as from the
interior to observe what can be improved or changed, to have a better job
and have greater success using that system.

In a system, it is essential to be able to control the monitoring of the process that is

is being carried out, thanks to the Emergency it is now possible as it has
function to monitor and compare the obtained results against the results
originally expected.

It is important to mention that some properties depend on others, such as

the equifinality that depends on homeostasis to exist, these two
Properties are among the most important in a system, as well as entropy.
connect with control since without information control in a system, it could
to lose entropy.

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 2.1 Properties of Systems
The systems are characterized by the following concepts:
Elements: The elements are the components of each system. The elements
systems can in turn be systems in their own right, that is to say,
subsystems. The elements of systems can be inanimate (non-living), or
endowed with life (living beings). Most of the systems we deal with,
they are aggregates of both. The elements that enter the system are called
inputs, and those who leave are called outputs or results.
Conversion Process: Organized systems are equipped with a process
of conversion so that the system elements can change state. The
conversion process changes input elements into output elements. In
a system with organization, the conversion processes generally add
value and utility to the entries, when converting into outputs. If the process of
conversion reduces the value or utility in the system, it imposes costs or
impediments.
Inputs and Resources: The difference between inputs and resources is very minimal, and
it only depends on the point of view and circumstances. In the conversion process, the
inputs are generally the elements on which the
resources. When the inputs and resources of a system are identified, it is
It is important to specify whether they are under the control of the system designer or not.
to say, if they can be considered part of the system or part of the environment.
Outputs or Results: The outputs are the results of the system process and
they are counted as results, successes or benefits.
The Environment: Determine which systems are under the control of whom
They make the decisions, and which should be left outside of their jurisdiction.

Purpose and Function: Inanimate systems are devoid of a

evident purpose. They acquire a specific purpose or function when
they enter into relationship with other subsystems in the context of a larger system
big.
Attributes: The systems, subsystems, and their elements are endowed with attributes.
or properties. The attributes can be 'quantitative' or 'qualitative'. This
Differentiation determines the approach to be used to measure them.
Goals and Objectives: The identification of goals and objectives is of utmost importance.
importance for system design. Components, programs, and missions. In
goal-oriented systems, the conversion process is organized around
the concept of components, programs or missions, which consists of
Compatible elements gathered to work towards a defined objective.
Administration, Agents and Decision Makers: The actions and decisions
that take place in the system are assigned to administrators, agents
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and decision makers whose responsibility is to guide the system towards achievement
of their objectives.
Structure: The notion of structure is related to the form of relationships.
that you maintain the elements of the set. The structures can be simple or
complex, depending on the number and type of interrelationships between the parts of
system.
States and Flows: The state of a system is defined by the properties that
they show their elements at a point in time. The condition of a system
is given by the value of the attributes that characterize it. The changes of a
state to another through which the elements of the system give rise to
flows, which are defined in terms of changes in value rates of the
attributes of systems.
2.1.1 Structure
Structure is the arrangement and order of the parts within a whole. Also
it can be understood as a system of coherent linked concepts, whose
the objective is to specify the essence of the object of study. Both reality and the
Language has structure. One of the objectives of semantics and science
consists of having the structure of the language faithfully reflect the structure of the
reality.

They are the more or less stable interrelationships between the parts or components of
a system can be verified at a given moment and constitutes the structure
of the system.
2.1.2 Emergency
It refers to the constitution of systems in smaller units advancing until the
limit at which a new level of emergency arises. E. Morín pointed out that the
the emergence of a system indicates the position of qualities and attributes that do not
they are supported in the appropriate parts.
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The emergence or rising refers to those properties or processes
of a system not reducible to the properties or processes of its parts
constituent. The concept of emergency is closely related to the
concepts of self-organization and supervenience and is defined in opposition to the
concepts of reductionism and dualism.
2.1.3 Communication
Every living system in general has a characteristic that leads them not only to
to remain (or survive) but to grow or expand.
In order to carry out this function, it is essential that a
adaptability to the environment or surroundings of the system, that is to say
that they come to possess the necessary mechanisms to modify their behavior to
as the demands of the environment require.
This means that the system must be capable of observing that environment, to
study their behavior in relation to him and inform themselves of the results and
consequences of that behavior for the existence and future life of the system. In
in other words, you must control your behavior in order to regulate it in a way
convenient for their survival. This leads directly to examining behavior
special of the systems: their self-control and the mechanisms or behaviors
designed to carry out this activity.
Specifically, feedback is a mechanism by which a part of
the output energy of a system or machine returns to the input. The
feedback (from English feedback), is also referred to as servomechanism or
Feedback is a subsystems of return communication provided by
the output of the system to its input, in order to alter it in some way.

Types of Feedback
Negative Feedback:
It occurs when the system deviates from its path, the information from
feedback warns this change to the divisional centers of the system and
they take the necessary measures to initiate corrective actions that must
make the system return to its original path. When the information of
feedback is used in this sense, we say that communication of
feedback is negative.
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So we conclude that it is the braking and inhibiting action of the output that
act on the system input.
Positive feedback:
When the action follows the reception of feedback communication, it goes
aimed at supporting the direction or initial behavior, we have a
positive feedback. Or in other words as we indicated
previously, when we keep the action constant and modify the
goals we are using positive feedback. In the feedback
Positive, the output signal amplifies and reinforces the input signal.
Feedback communication
It is the information that indicates how the system is doing in the search for
its objective, and which is reintroduced into the system in order to be carried out.
make the necessary corrections to achieve your goal.
2.1.4 Synergy
Every system is synergistic inasmuch as
the examination of its parts in form
isolated cannot explain or
predict their behavior. The
synergy is, consequently, a
phenomenon what surge them
interactions between the parties or
components of a system
(conglomerate). This concept
respond to the Aristotelian postulate
he says that "the whole is not equal to
the sum of its parts.
totality is the conservation of
everything in the reciprocal action of the component parts (teleology). In terms
Less essentialists, it could be pointed out that synergy is the common property of
all those things that we observe as systems.
Characteristics
The philosopher Fuller points out that an object possesses synergy when the examination of one or
some of its parts (even each of its parts) in isolation cannot
explain or predict the behavior of the whole.
There are objects that have as a characteristic the existence of synergy and others.
No. Generally, totalities lacking synergy are referred to as:
conglomerates. The difference between a conglomerate and a system lies in the
existence or non-existence of relationships or interactions between the parties. It can be concluded
that the conglomerate does not exist in reality, it is just a theoretical construct. Without
The embargo, in its concept, is a tool for analysis for certain effects.
important. Then for research purposes, the conglomerate is a set of
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objects, from which certain characteristics are abstracted, that is to say, that are eliminated
those factors external to the study and then the behavior of the
variables of interest.
Object: It is something that occupies a place in space, a somewhat restricted definition if
it is taken into account that when we talk about space, a world is thought of
three-dimensional, and if it is remembered that thoughts, although they are intangible, do not
they occupy a place in space and yet they exist, then yes to space
when the fourth dimension, time, is added to three-dimensional, an idea is reached of
objects that encompass both the tangible and the intangible, (an object is everything that
that occupies a place in space and/or in time.
Synergy as an analytical tool becomes more powerful when it is discovered
that the object of study possesses, as one of its characteristics, synergy. Of
immediate reductionist system (explains a complicated phenomenon through the
analysis of its parts or elements) is eliminated as a method to explain
that object.
Objects exhibit a characteristic of synergy when the sum of their
parts are less or different from the whole, or when the examination of any of them
It does not explain the behavior of the whole, then to analyze and study all its parts and,
if the existing relationships between them can be established, it is possible to predict the
behavior of this object when a particular force is applied that will not be
usually, the resultant sum of effects from each of its parts.
If it is said that the sum of the parts is not equal to the whole and the technique is applied
of the sampling.
2.1.5 Homeostasis
Homeostasis is the characteristic of an open system or a closed system.
a conjugation between both, especially in a living organism, through the
how the internal environment is regulated for
maintain a stable and constant condition.
They are processes whose aim is to maintain in
constantly balancing the internal environment,
what is that space where everything takes place
activity.
It is the property of a system that defines its
level of response and adaptation to
context. It is the level of adaptation
permanence of the system or its tendency towards
dynamic survival.

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Types of homeostasis:
Social homeostasis
Societies, as a sum of individuals who are the biological basis of a culture,
they tend towards stability. That is why there are norms and customs, traditions and
habits, which tend to settle and have their own mechanisms of
stabilization and rejection of the new. Conservatism has, in part, a
biological foundation. And renewal and change are motivated by the
the need to satisfy certain needs, whether natural or created. Types
of individual regulations.
Thermoregulation: It is the regulation of heat and cold.
Osmoregulation: Regulation of water and ions, in which is involved the
Excretory system mainly, aided by the Nervous and the apparatus
respiratory
Regulation of Respiratory Gases.
Psychological homeostasis
The term was introduced by W. B. Cannon in 1932, designating the general tendency
of every organism to the restoration of internal balance whenever it is
altered. These internal imbalances, which can occur both at the level
Physiological as well as psychological, are referred to by the generic name of needs.
In this way, the life of an organism can be defined as the search
equilibrium constant between their needs and their satisfaction. Every action
tending to the search for that balance is, in a broad sense, a behavior
Cybernetic homeostasis
In cybernetics, homeostasis is the feature of self-regulating systems.
(cybernetic systems) that consists of the ability to maintain certain
variables in a steady state, in dynamic equilibrium or within certain
limits, changing parameters of its internal structure. Ashby's ideas
developed in Design for a Brain gave rise to the field of study of the
biological systems as homeostatic and adaptive systems in terms of
mathematics of dynamic systems. The system is homeostatic in the sense of
that when it approaches the limits of its areas of freedom, the direction of its
The path will change in such a way that the twists will never cross the limits.
Biological homeostasis
The entire organization and functionality of beings tends towards a spectral equilibrium.
This characteristic of dynamism, in which all components are in
constant change to keep the result within certain margins
set (in contrast to the classical view of a motionless system), causes some
authors prefer to use the term homeokinesis to refer to this one
concept
In organic homeostasis, the first step of self-regulation is the detection of
remoteness from normality. The normali9 in a system of this type, it is defined
due to the nominal energy values, the adjustment springs trigger at
the moments when the potentials are not satisfactorily balanced,
activating the necessary mechanisms to compensate for it.
2.1.6 Equifinality
It refers to the fact that a living system can emerge from different initial conditions and
by different paths reach the same final state. It does not matter the process that
receive, the result is the same.

In closed systems, the final state is mistakenly determined by the

initial conditions; on the other hand, in open systems it can reach a
same final state starting from different initial conditions and by different
roads.
the same final state, the same goal can be reached starting from different
initial conditions and following different itineraries in the processes
organisms
Another definition that can be given is that it means identical.
results can have different origins, so what is decisive is the nature
from the organization. Likewise, different results can be produced by the
the same causes.
For example if we have:
System A: 4*3+6=18
System B: 2*5+8=18
2.1.7 Entropy
It is the tendency of systems to wear out, to disintegrate, for the
relaxation of standards and an increase in randomness. The entropy
increases over time. If the information increases, the decreases the
entropy, for information is the basis of configuration and order. The
highly entropic systems tend to disappear due to the wear generated
for their systemic process. They must have rigorous control systems and

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mechanisms of review, revision, and permanent change, to avoid its
disappearance through time.
In a closed system, entropy must always be positive. However, in the
In open biological or social systems, entropy can be reduced or improved.
to transform into negative entropy, that is, a process of greater organization
complete and capable of transforming resources. This is possible because in

open systems the resources used to reduce the entropy process are
taking from the external environment. Likewise, living systems are maintained in a
stable state and can avoid the increase of entropy and even develop
it was in states of increasing order and organization.
In organizations...
When we add information to a physical object, what we are doing is
arrange the elements that make up the system in a specific way
that object. For example, let's consider a product from our factory. For this
we collect the physical characteristics of it (material, shape, size,
color,…) and the characteristics specific to its design and manufacturing (documentation,
versioning, iteration, author, workflow,…), that is, we are organizing the object to
through their technological information. Any random change in them
causes a loss of order, an increase in entropy. The same idea
It can apply to knowledge-type or logistical-type information.
Information about data.
Example:
A company 'X' has a communication problem between the boss and his
collaborators which leads to disorganization and low performance in
the goods.

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2.1.8 Emergency
It is defined as the Introduction, implementation, embedding, among other concepts and
refers to all these characteristics and abilities that a system can
to be carried out within another system, whether larger or smaller, that is to say the
relationship that exists between size of
one and the other systems, but both are
they need even the smallest one
the most important is not the greatest in his
Hierarchy. Phenomenon of refraction,
opposite to the emergency, in which a
object located on the horizon
geographical or slightly above
it seems to disappear.

2.1.9 Control
It is defined as the function that allows
the supervision and comparison of the obtained results against the results
originally expected, also ensuring that the directed action is being
carried out according to the organization's plans and within the
limits of the organizational structure.
Fayol, cited by Melinkoff (1990), defines control as 'consisting of verifying whether everything is'
carry out according to the adopted program, the orders given, and the principles
administrative... It aims to point out the faults and errors in order to
it can repair them and prevent their recurrence.
The control focuses on evaluating and correcting the performance of the activities of
subordinates to ensure that the organization's objectives and plans are being
carrying out.
From this, one can deduce the great importance of control, for it is only to
through this function we will be able to specify if what was done fits with
planned and in case of deviations, identify the responsible parties and correct
those errors.
However, it is advisable to remember that there should not only be control over
posterior, but, like the approach, it must be,
12 at least in part,
a task of foresight. In this case, one can study the past to determine
what has happened and why the standards have not been met; from this
measures can be adopted to ensure that in the future it does not
they make the mistakes of the past.

Also, since control is the last of the functions of the administrative process,
this closes the cycle of the system by providing feedback regarding
significant deviations from the planned performance. The feedback from
relevant information from the control function can affect the process of
planning.
Control systems according to Cybernetics Theory are essentially applied to
living organisms, machines, and organizations. These systems were
first related in 1948 by Norberto Wiener in his work Cybernetics
and Society with application in the theory of control mechanisms. A system
Control is defined as a set of components that can regulate it.
own behavior or that of another system in order to achieve a functioning
predetermined, so that the chances of failures are reduced and
obtain the desired results.

2.1.10 Law of Required Variety

It establishes that the greater the variety of actions of a regulated system,
the variety of possible disturbances that must be
controlled ("only variety absorbs variety"). In other words, the
variety of available actions (possible states) in a control system must
to be, at least, as vast as the variety of actions or states in the
system that is to be controlled. As the variety increases, the necessary information
grows. Every complex system is based on the richness and variety of the
information that describes it, but its regulation also requires an increase
in terms of similarity with the variables of that complexity.

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 2.2 Organization of complex systems:
2.2.1 Supersystem
They are those that encompass everything or on which the reference system depends.

In an organization there exists

departments each one can
to consider oneself how a
subsystem. In each
department, there are sections,
they could be considered as a
subsystem. The country can
to conceptualize how a
superior subsystem even the
this yworld, like a
subsystem of a suprasystem:
the universe. The analysis you desire
to be carried out, it must be based on a definition of the system's boundaries.

Example:
A city council, for example, depends hierarchically on various
political and administrative superstructures: Provincial Council, Autonomous Community,
Central ministries, in relation to their various functions.
2.2.2 infra-system
Each of the main components of a system is called a subsystem.
(Infra systems) Each subsystem encompasses aspects of the system that share
some common property.
A subsystem is neither a function nor an object, but a package of classes,
associations, operations, events, and interrelated restrictions, and that have
a reasonably well-defined and small interface with other subsystems.
Normally, a subsystem is identified by the services it provides. A
Service is a group of related functions that share some purpose.
common, such as input-output processing, drawing images or carrying out
arithmetic calculations. A subsystem defines a coherent way of examining a
aspect of the problem.
Each subsystem has a well-defined interface with the rest of the system. This
specify the form of all interactions and the flow of information between the
limits of subsystems, but does not specify how it is implemented internally
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the subsystem. Each subsystem can be designed, then, independently,
without affecting others.
The subsystems should be defined in such a way that the majority of the
interactions occur within and not between the limits of different
subsystems, with the aim of reducing the existing dependencies between them. Everything
the system should be divided into a small number of subsystems.
Each subsystem, in turn, must be broken down into its own subsystems.
smaller. The lowest level subsystems are called modules.
The relationship between two subsystems can be client-provider or point to point.
In the first instance, the client must know the provider's interface, but the provider does not need to.
you need to know the interfaces of those because all interactions are
initiated by the clients, using the provider's interface. In a relationship
among peers, each subsystem can call the others. A communication from
a subsystem to another is not necessarily followed by a response
immediate. Interactions between peers are more complex because the
Subsystems must be aware of each other's interfaces. There are communication cycles.
that are difficult to understand and prone to subtle design errors. One must
look for client-supplier decompositions whenever possible, because a
unidirectional interaction is much easier to build, understand and
modify that a bidirectional interaction.
2.2.3 Iso-systems
You have analogous norms, structures, and behaviors; they do not have to be.
exactly the same and their behavior can be very different from each other.
Example:
OT-1471 Belweder Isosystem, Poland, 1957
power and volume switch.
2: shine.
3: tone.
4: vertical synchronization.

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 5: horizontal synchronicity.
6: contrast.
7: channel tuning.
channel switch

2.2.4 Hetero-systems
They are analog level systems to the reference system but belonging to another.
group or class. (Foundations, professional associations).
Example:
Screenplane. It is a vehicle similar to an airplane, although it is designed not to
never leave the area of influence of the ground effect (a few meters in altitude),
where it flies over an air mattress in a way similar to how it would a
hovercraft

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Conclusion
I concluded that these studied properties are fundamental for being able to
understand and identify certain behaviors that are present in the
systems or during the operation of one, if any system does not show any
of these characteristics or properties, then we would be talking about a
system that is failing or has problems.
In real life, many systems do not exhibit properties such as those that are
"synergy" then when functioning presents many problems, and it is
it is essential to identify the root cause, and above all, to know how to counteract it
these problems to avoid further issues while it is operational
system.
Homeostasis and equifinality are fundamental parts, as these two
Properties together with others are the essence of systems, they
it needs homeostasis in order to have, in a way, equifinality.
is one of the most important parts of a system, as sometimes a
An engineer must know that it doesn't matter which path you take or which path you go.
to take, but that you reach the goal and achieve the success you want to achieve
using that system.
We as future industrial engineers must know all of these
aspects that make up a system, since in the future we will work with them and
we will be part of it and its operation, as well as we will be able to create one
for an industry or company.
Also, if you want to modify or improve a system, you always have to take as a basis.
its properties as well as its characteristics, because like all aspects
Whatever you want to improve, you first need to know how it is composed, in order to
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knowing what aspects you can improve or change for a better one, to have a
better functioning of the system and being more productive.

Bibliographic Reference
http://es.scribd.com/doc/57958841/system-engineering
The link provided does not contain translatable text.
characteristics-of-systems
Unable to access the content from the provided URL.

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