13 February, 2014

3-1-8 understanding systems: Interdependence

In order for a system to work some of the factors or elements in it have to interact with each other in a certain way … depend on each other in order for the system to work
There are two types of systems that exist

-          Tightly-coupled system
-          Loosely-coupled system

-          Tightly-coupled system:
-          Highly dependent system
-          Time dependent: things happen before and after things
-          Ordered: A has to happen before B and then C …. Etc.
-          There is only one path to a successful outcome
-          There is very little slack
-          Failure in one part of the system cascades to the depending parts and the whole system fails to give the desired outcome
-          Example: [Domino trick]

-          Loosely-coupled system:
-          Low-dependent system
-          Parallel system: things happen at the same time
-          Not ordered: in most parts of it
-          There are many paths to a successful outcome
-          There is significant slack
-          Failure in one part of the system may be not noticed. It affects the system as a whole but only the one failing part and the few depending parts shut down for a while
-          Example: [Orchestra]


 Know that no system is 100% tightly or loosely coupled. It depends on the number of dependencies it has and the how they affect the final product 

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