Basic System Concepts

All systems are nested, with the smaller being part of the larger. To implement a new system, one must understand the interrelationships, the ways that these systems are connected. One particular type of interrelationship is an interdependency, a strong interrelationship implying dependency between the components. So, for example, to field an e-learning innovation we need to understand such subcomponents as communication systems, workforce systems, taxation systems, labor systems, policy systems, and on and on—again, taking a holistic approach. In general, almost all social systems theories advocate for a stakeholder based or community based approach, working with many people involved in the implementation during the design and creation of an innovation. Thus to initiate an e-learning system for training illiterates in London, we would talk to illiterates to find what motivates them, as well as stakeholders, such as those who hire former illiterates, those who work in literacy programs, or literacy advocates, and many others.

Basic to most systems theories is that systems are dynamic, changing continuously, making it difficult to create new innovations for systems that are sometimes unstable. A colleague I work with used to work for Mc Donnell Douglas, an aircraft company, in their military training division (no she wasn't in the military) where she designed training for jet fighter pilots. Designing training for a plane that we were also building was nearly impossible since we didn't yet know the technical specifications. They were literally working "on the fly," trying to create something for a dynamic system, which created untold re-work but was the only way to get the job done.