HOLISTIC UNDERSTANDING FOR DESIGN -- THEORY OF TECHNICAL SYSTEMS

Abstract

Improvements at local to global levels needs holistic understanding of the processes and actors (operators). The theory of technical systems provides a model for a holistic understanding, and a conceptual basis for qualitative thinking. The theory describes a transfo-rmation system, in an environment. Any artificial change (transformation) can be modeled in this way. The environment includes local influences and effects acting on the system and its process, and a general environment (regional, national and global) that covers physical, chemical, societal, economic, cultural, political, ideological, geographic and all other influences, with a link to other areas of study. Technical systems (as main operator) experience a typical life cycle. This leads to consideration of supply networks, globalization, financing, impacts on the environment, and other concepts. The process, and all operators, exhibit typical classes of properties. Each process and operator consists of elements and relationships that form structures of several useful kinds. Anticipating a future involves establishing the requirements, including those that arise from the producing organization. The available technological and scientific information influences the development of individual sorts of transformation system, and enables and limits the changes in culture that can be implemented. A rational methodology for designing newer transformation systems can be proposed. This systematic approach to designing allows use of other design methods, including intuitive working.