Systems theory facts for kids
Systems theory is a way of looking at how different parts work together to create a whole. Think of it like a team: each player has a job, but they all work together to win the game. A system can be anything from a single living thing, like a plant, to a big group, like a school or a country. It can also be something mechanical, like a car engine, or something digital, like a computer program.
This idea helps us understand how things are connected and how they influence each other. It's about seeing the big picture, not just the individual pieces.
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What is Systems Theory?
Systems theory helps us understand how different parts of something work together. It's like looking at a puzzle: each piece is important, but the real picture only appears when all pieces fit together. This way of thinking helps us study many things. These include living creatures, groups of people, or even machines.
How Does a System Work?
Every system has parts that interact. These interactions create a result that the individual parts couldn't make alone. For example, a bicycle is a system. Its wheels, pedals, and chain are parts. They work together to move you forward. If one part is missing, the bicycle won't work as intended.
Systems also have boundaries. These boundaries separate the system from its surroundings. They can be physical, like the skin of an animal. Or they can be invisible, like the rules of a game.
Who Started Systems Theory?
The idea of systems theory became popular in the 1950s. A scientist named Ludwig von Bertalanffy was one of the main people who developed it. He believed that many different fields, like biology, engineering, and sociology, could learn from each other by studying systems. He wanted to find common rules that apply to all kinds of systems.
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In Spanish: Teoría de sistemas para niños