System Theory
The system theory originated from Karl Ludwig von Bertalanffy's General System Theory (utwente.nl). According to this theory, a system consists of four things:
1. The objects that are in it.
2. Attributes, which are the qualities/properties of the system.
3. Internal relationships between the objects
4. Systems exist in an environment (utwente.nl).
In other words, a system is a set of things that affect one another and form another pattern that is different from all the other parts of the system. An open system is one where it receives information and uses that information to interact with the environment. A closed system does not interact with the environment. Communication is then an integrated process (utwente.nl). According to Renee Robinson (personal communication, April 26, 2009), this theory also includes inputs, which are resources going into the objects, throughputs, which are the processes the organization goes through, and outputs which are the completed products.
Click here to view an example of how a conversation begins, then once a new agent is introduced (a threat in this case) how it changes, and the final outcome is different than the intended one to begin with.
