The Centrality Axiom

Central to all systems are two pairs of propositions; emergence and hierarchy, and communication and control  (Adams, et al., 2014, p. 116).

The centrality axiom has four principles:

1. Emergence is the principle that whole entities exhibit properties which are meaningful only when attributed to the whole, not its parts – e.g. the smell of ammonia.  Every model of human activity system exhibits properties as a whole entity which derive from it component activities and their structure, but cannot be reduced to them. (Checkland, 1993, p. 314).

2. "Hierarchy is the principle according to which entities meaningfully treated as wholes are built up of smaller entities which are themselves wholes … and so on. In a hierarchy, emergent properties denote the levels" (Checkland, 1993, p. 314).

3.  Communications and 4. Control.  Communications and control are the pair-set that enable transmission of operational properties related to a systems' performance. Without the ability to communicate essential operating properties control would not be possible. Control is the principle that permits the system to adapt and remain viable. More formally:. . . a hierarchy of systems which are open must entail processes of communication and control if the systems are to survive the knocks administered by the systems’ environment. (Checkland, 1993, p. 83).

 

References

 

• Adams, K. M., Hester, P. T., Bradley, J. M., Meyers, T. J., & Keating, C. B. (2014). Systems Theory: The Foundation for Understanding Systems. Systems Engineering, 17(1), 112-123.

• Checkland, P. B. (1993). Systems Thinking, Systems Practice. New York John Wiley & Sons.