What are the characteristics of a system? | Software Engineering | Software Characteristics

Characteristics of a System

System Analysis is a process of collecting and interpreting facts, identifying the problems, and decomposition of a system into its components. System design is the components or modules to satisfy the specific requirements.

There are many systems such as computer system, education system, accounting system, manufacturing system and so on.

Definition of System: “A collection of related components that interact to performs task in order to accomplish a goal”.

 

Characteristics of a system:

 

1. Organization:

• Organization implies structure and order.
• It is the arrangement of components that helps to achieve pre-determined objectives/goals.
• For example, a computer system.
• Interaction:
• It is defined by the manner in which the components are operating with each other.
• For example Organization system.

 

2. Interdependence:

• Interdependence means how to components of system depends on one another.
• For proper functioning, the components are co-ordinated and liked together according to specified plan.
• The output of one sub-system is the required by other sub-system as input.
• For Example, in computer system.

 

3. Integration:

• Integration is concerned with how a system is tied together in order to achieve common goal, thus forming integration.
• It means that the parts of the system work together within the system even if each part performs a unique function.

 

4. Central Objective:

• The objective of system must be central.
• Central objective means the common goal and it may be real or stared. It is not uncommon for an organization to state an objective and operate to achieve another.
• The users must know the central objective of a computer application in the analysis for a successful design and conversion.

 

5. Behavior:

• Behavior is the way the system reacts to its surrounding environment.
• Behavior is determined by the procedures designed to make sure that components behave in ways that will allow system to achieve common goal.

 

6. Structure:

• A relationship among the components which define the boundary between the system and environment is called as the structures of the system.

 

Elements of system:

The Basic system elements are input, processor and output Universal Model of a system is made up of system elements like input, processor and output using basic concept like control and feedback to keep the system balance.

 

1. Inputs and outputs:

• Inputs are the information that enters into the system for processing while output is the outcome of processing.

 

2. Processor:

• It is the operational component of a system and involves the actual transformation of input into output.

 

3. Control:

• The control elements guide the system. It controls the working of the system at all stages.
• It controls all the input, processor and output activities so that decision can be taken property.

4. Feedback:

• Feedback is method that helps to compare output produced with output expected and make necessary changes in the process or input in order to reduce the difference between output produced and output expected.

5. Environment:

• All the things which are outside the system are called as environment of the system.
• The environment effects working or progress of the system.
• It is a super system in which any organization operates.

 

6. Boundaries:

• The boundary indicates the extent or limit of the system. It divides things into the system and its environment.
• The elements of the system design its boundary.

 

7. Interface:

• Interface means interaction of difference system parts with each other as interaction of the system with the system outside its boundaries.

 

8. Sub-system:

• Sub system is a unit that is a part of larger system. That means the larger system divided into sub-parts. These sub-parts are again divided into smaller sub-system until the smallest sub-systems are of manageable size.

 

9. Black Box system:

• A sub-system at the lowest level whose processes are not defined is called back box system.
• Only inputs and outputs are known but not actual transformation.