The development of society, the economy, the course of political processes are largely carried out according to systemic principles. Their essence presupposes the following of certain elements or subjects to certain patterns, the performance of a particular role by them. What is a system? What are the specifics of the components that form it?
Definition
Before considering the main elements of the system, let's define the essence of the key category of the question. What are the opinions of researchers on this matter? In accordance with the widespread point of view, the term "system" should be understood as a set of connected and interdependent parts, united by some common criterion (for example, purpose). Moreover, each of the relevant parts may have a pronounced independence.
Properties
The system must have the following basic properties: the presence of several elements, the presence of a common criterion that unites them, integrity, and the desire to maintain its structure. Other important features highlighted by researchers include the need for external control, as well as the complex structure of the properties of internal elements (withwhich it is possible that the features that characterize one part of the system will differ significantly from those that apply to the other).
Structure
What could be the structural elements of the system? These, on the one hand, are subjects or phenomena interacting with each other, on the other hand, the actual results of their communications, which may be the formation of new elements of the system, and so on. Thus, the structural element of the system is a subject that may not have signs of completeness and integrity.
Element specifics
.). The result of communications at the level of the national economic system may be the formation, in turn, of regional, local or sectoral economic clusters, which may subsequently acquire pronounced independence relative to the original system.
Indivisibility of elements
It is quite difficult to identify criteria that would unambiguously determine what properties and external features the elements of an economic system should have. Some researchers propose to adhere to the concept according to which it is legitimate to single out as separate elements of the system only those parts of it that, due to objective criteria, are difficult to divide.into functional varieties or additional classes. So, an example of such an element in the economy can be an enterprise or, for example, a territorial office of the Federal Tax Service.
Independence of elements
There is another point of view on the account of what features characterize the elements of the economic system. According to a number of researchers, such can be any economic entities with relative independence in decision-making. So, the territorial subdivision of the Federal Tax Service can no longer be an element of the economic system, since it is subordinate to the federal government. In turn, the relevant type of entity will be the Federal Tax Service as a whole. Similarly, an element of the system is an enterprise if it exists as a separate legal entity. If it is part of the holding structure, it will not be able to have such a status, if you follow the point of view under consideration.
Types of systems
Having explored what a system, element, structure of this category is, let's consider the popular reasons for its classification.
So, open and closed type systems are distinguished. The former include those that involve active communications with other systems. They are characterized by a certain exchange - data, energy or, for example, information - with other subjects of activities. In turn, closed systems are not characterized by similar properties. Examples of open systems are society, economics, political space.
Another common criterion is the level of structure. What does this mean? Thus, systems can be characterized by pronounced or weak structuredness. In some cases, these terms are identified, respectively, with a high level of organization and low. Or, for example, with a pronounced ability to self-regulation and weakly noticeable. The specific approach is determined by the preferences of the researcher. There are experts who identify the concept of structuredness with the ability of self-adaptation and adjustment (to the conditions of the external environment or the interaction of constituent elements).
One way or another, the systems of the first type - structured, highly organized, self-regulating and capable of self-adaptation and adjustment - include those in which the constituent elements are clearly fixed, have their role. It can be noted that this feature is more characteristic of technical systems.
If we are talking about poorly structured systems (respectively, characterized by a low level of organization, lack of the ability to self-regulate, adapt and adjust), then, in turn, the elements in them may not have specific features and unambiguous roles. However, in such systems there are parameters and patterns that make it possible to evaluate their activity. In some cases, it is possible to use probabilistic methods of process analysis.
Some researchers distinguish between deterministic and stochastic systems. What are their specifics? Tothe first are those systems that have a sufficiently rigid structure. In fact, in some contexts they are seen as fully consistent with structured (highly organized, self-regulating, adapting, self-adjusting). However, there are a number of special criteria that characterize deterministic systems. For example, stability that persists over time. A structured system can sometimes change and acquire signs of a low-organized one, as well as vice versa. However, if this is observed in relation to a deterministic system, then in this case it can collapse in principle. In turn, a stochastic system must always be soft, otherwise it may lose the functionality of the links that work inside it (since they may simply not be designed for the rigidity that is inherent in a deterministic system).
The next aspect that interests us is the characteristics of the elements of the system. What are the most noteworthy concepts in this regard?
Classification of system elements
So, an element of the system is, if you follow the first point of view discussed above, an integral, indivisible subject interacting with others that have the same characteristics. In accordance with another concept, this may be a subject characterized by pronounced independence. But regardless of what is meant by the corresponding term, and what properties of an element of the system - indivisibility or independence - are considered paramount, in all cases this or that subject will play a certain role.or even several of them. Which, probably, will be the criterion for assigning an element to a particular class. What roles can be performed by the subjects of the system? What characteristics should they therefore have?
System-forming and auxiliary elements
Researchers single out, first of all, backbone elements and auxiliary ones. What does it mean? For example, if we consider the elements of the banking system, then the institution of credit and financial relations itself can be attributed to the backbone (if we adhere to the concept that independence is important) or individual banks (if we take as a basis the theory according to which the key feature of the element is indivisibility). In turn, auxiliary elements in this case can be supervisory authorities that check the effectiveness of the legality of the work of key entities - banks (if we take the first concept) or, for example, an organization that provides cash collection services (if we consider the theory of the indivisibility of the elements of the system).
Elements of strategic and tactical importance
Another criterion for classifying the subjects in question is the duration of their activities. There are elements whose role is reduced to solving tactical problems, and there are those that are of strategic importance. If we again consider the elements of the banking system, then the collection service can be fully attributed to the subjects of the first type. Its main task is to transportfunds from one place to another. After that, the corresponding element ceases to fulfill its role. In turn, the strategic components of the banking system are, obviously, the credit and financial organizations themselves. However, they can also be classified under this criterion into additional varieties. So, there are head offices of banks, which, as long as the corresponding brand is present on the market, will function in any case. And there are temporary offices that may open and close periodically. The first will relate to strategic elements, the second - to perform a temporary function.
Eligibility and duty for public elements
Another possible criterion that determines which class a particular social element of the system should belong to. This is an assignment to the type of authorized or obliged. This category finds its basis in civil law, but it is quite applicable to many other branches of social communications. So, if we consider the elements of the financial system, then we can attribute the very supervisory bodies to the authorized ones. They have the right to check financial institutions for compliance with their activities of the law. They can examine the assets of banks for sufficiency to secure liabilities. They have the right to revoke licenses from financial institutions if serious violations are revealed.
In turn, the obligatory elements of the financial system are the banks themselves. Relevant organizations should be accountable tosupervisory structures, bring their activities in line with the law, provide the necessary data disclosing the value of assets, etc.
At the same time, the authorized element of the system will almost always be simultaneously obliged to some other subject. For example, the supervisory authority that controls the work of banks will, as we noted above, be empowered in relation to them, but at the same time be obliged to the government of the country. In turn, financial institutions are obliged in relation to supervisory structures, but at the same time they can be empowered in relation to their borrowers who have taken a loan. The citizens themselves, who have issued a loan, can be empowered, surprisingly, in relation to their own government. They have the right to demand from him a fair administration of the state and its various institutions, including the economic one. This ensures the interaction of different subjects - citizens, banks, supervisory structures, the government - within the framework of a large-scale social system.
