METHODS OF ANALYSIS OF COMPLEX SYSTEMS

Abstract

The ever-increasing complexity of our modern life brings about the development of increasingly complex systems (e.g., traffic or mail sorting in a large city). These systems may or may not include living organisms (e.g., people). Because of the existence of such systems and the needs to design additional ones, an urgent need for adequate methods of analysis exists. Most known methods of analysis, used in the physical sciences, prove inadequate in the analysis of complex systems because of their emphasis on the study of the characteristics of individual elements rather than on the mutual relationships and influences between such elements. The methods available for the analysis of complex systems are outlined. Some xamples of applications, using several of the disciplines described, are given. (Author)

Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Feb 14, 1961
Accession Number
AD0263896

Entities

People

  • Ladislav Dolansky

Organizations

  • Northeastern University

Tags

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Complex Systems

Readers

  • Systems Analysis and Design
  • Theoretical Analysis.