Download and customize hundreds of business templates for free
In the context of systems, function generally refers to non-human systems, while purpose refers to human ones. This function or purpose is often the least obvious, but the most crucial determinant of a system's behavior.
Question was asked on:
A "system" is a set of independent things that are interconnected in a way that causes them to produce their own patterns over time. Outside factors may unleash that behavior, but the system patterns are largely internal. For example, the market economy has natural ups and downs that can be impacted by politics, but is not driven exclusively by them. A system must consist of three kinds of things: elements, interconnections, and a function or purpose. Each part must be vital to the system's function. Football players, coaches, and the field are elements connected by rules. Take away or change any one of those and you alter or break down the system's function. Many systems contain both human and non-human elements. "Function" is generally used for non-human systems, while "purpose" refers to human ones. This function or purpose is often the least obvious, but the most crucial determinant of a system's behavior. Change a team's purpose from win to lose, and the entire game strategy chan...
Asked on the following book summary:
How do you avoid wasted time, money, and resources from short-sighted decisions? When you think in systems, you can learn to recognize the relationshi...
Download and customize hundreds of business templates for free
How to know if an idea is worth pursuing? Companies need tried-and-true ways to discover the next big idea that will disrupt their industry. This Idea Testing presentation template includes tools that can be customized to different business scenarios and provide a framework for brainstorming and testing new ideas.
Feel overwhelmed by a seemingly complex problem? Download the Problem-Solving Frameworks template to deconstruct problems into a series of smaller, logical steps. This deck includes tools that survey and identify a problem, explore potential causes, brainstorm potential counter measures, implement proposals, and then evaluate the outcome.
How do you inspire salient ideas and collaborate with your team in a brainstorm session? Use our Mind Map collection to visually organize information by themes, hierarchy, and causal relationships, and find the common thread that can lead you to out-of-the-box thinking. Since solutions are rarely surface-level, deeper exploration of each problem is needed. Mind Maps encourages you to keep digging deeper and draw insights from potential solutions.
Our Venn Diagram collection provides over forty unique, customizable charts which you can download and customize for any business need. It includes standard venn diagrams, cluster diagrams, linear diagrams, stacked diagrams, and target market analysis diagrams, plus many more.