fChapter 1

System Concept and Information

Q.) What is System? Characteristics, Elements, Types and System Approach.

System

The word system is derived from the Greek word “systema”, which means a
organized relationship among the following unit or component. A system is an
orderly grouping of interdependent components linked together according to a plan
to achieve a specific objective”.

The study of system has some basic implications:

1. A system must be designed to achieve a predetermined objective.

2. Interrelationship and interdependence must be exit among the components.
3. The objectives of the organization as a whole have a higher priority than the
objectives of its subsystems.
4.
Characteristics Of System :

 Organization : Organization implies structure and order. It is the arrangement

of components that helps to achieve objectives. Hierarchical relationship
starting with the president on top and leading down ward to the blue collar
worker represent the organization structure.

 Interdependence : Independence means that parts of the organization or

computer system depend on one another. They are coordinated and linked
together according to a plan. One subsystem depends on the input of another
subsystem for proper functioning; that is, the output of one subsystem is the
required input for another subsystem.

 Integration : Integration refers to the holism of system. Synthesis follows

analysis to achieve the central objective of the organization. Integration is
concerned with how a system is tied together. It is more than sharing a
physical part or a location. It means that parts of the system work together
within the system even though each part performs a unique function.

 Central Objective : Objective may be real or stated. Objective is determined

by higher management and user must be aware about the central objective
well in advance.

Elements of a System :

The following are the key elements of a System :

1. Outputs and inputs

2. Processor
3. Control
 4. feedback
5. Environment
6. Boundaries And Interface.

 Outputs and inputs : The major objective of the system is to produce an

outputs that has value to its user. Inputs are the elements that enter the
system for processing the inputs, the outcome of processing. Output is the
result of processing. A system feeds on inputs to produce output in the much
same way that a business brings a human, financial, and material resources
to produce goods and service.

 Processor(s) : The processor is the element of a system that involves the

actual transformation of input into output. It is the operational component of a
system. processor may modify the input totally or partially, depending on a
specification of the output. This means that as the output specifications
change, so does the processing.

 Control : The control element guides the system, It is the decision-making

subsystem that controls the pattern of activities governing input, processing
and input.

 Feedback : Control in a dynamic system is achieved by feedback. Feedback

measures output against a standard in some form of cybernetic procedure
that includes communication and control. The output information is fed back to
the input and/or to management for deliberation. After the output is compared
against performance standards, changes can result in the input or processing
and consequently, the output. Feedback may be positive or negative, routine
or informational.

 Environment : The environment is the “suprasystem” within which an

organization operates. It determines how a system should work. A system
cannot exist in isolation. The system is covered by the environment with a
boundary in between the two.

 Boundaries and interface : A system should be defined by its boundaries-

the limit that identify its components, process, and interrelationships when it
interfaces with another system. Each system has boundaries that determine
its sphere of influence and control.

Types of Systems :

 Physical or Abstract : Physical system is tangible entities dat may be static

or dynamic in nature. Abstract system is conceptual or non-physical.
The abstract is conceptualization of physical situations.

 Sub System and Super System : Each system is part of a large system.
The business firm is viewed as the system or total system when focus is on
production, distribution of goal and sources of profit and income.The total
system consists of all the objects, attributes and relationship necessary to
accomplish an objective given a number of constraints. Sub systems are the
 smaller systems within a system. Super system denotes extremely large and
complex system.

 Permanent and Temporary System : A permanent system is a system

enduring for a time span dat is long relative to the operation of human.
Temporary system is one having a short time span.

 Natural and Man Made System : System which is made by man is called
man made system. Systems which are in the environment made by nature are
called natural system.

 Deterministic and Probabilistic : A Deterministic system is one in which the

occurrence of all events is perfectly predictable. If we get the description of
the system state at a particular time, the next state can be easily predicted.
Probabilistic system is one in which the occurrence of events cannot be
perfectly predicted.

Man-made Information System : It is generally believed that

the information reduces uncertainty about a state or event. An information
system is the basis for interaction between the user and the analyst. It
determines the nature of relationship among decision makers.
An information system may be defined as a set of devices, procedures
and operating system designed around user-base criteria to produce
information and communicating it to the user for planning control and
performance.
The Systems Approach

The system approach is top took upon management as a system or as “an organised
whole” made up of sub- systems integrated into a unity or orderly totality. Systems
approach is based on the generalization that everything is inter-related and inter-
dependent.

Features of Systems Approach:

(i) A system consists of interacting elements. It is set of interrelated and

interdependent parts arranged in a manner that produces a unified whole.

(ii) The various sub-systems should be studied in their inter-relationships rather, than
in isolation from each other.

(iii) An organisational system has a boundary that determines which parts are

internal and which are external.

(iv) A system does not exist in a vacuum. It receives information, material and

energy from other systems as inputs. These inputs undergo a transformation

process within a system and leave the system as output to other systems.
(v) An organisation is a dynamic system as it is responsive to its environment. It is

vulnerable to change in its environment.

Q) Difference between Feedback and Feed Forward Control Systems

A system of components that is used to provide the desired response by controlling

different parameters in the process is referred to as a control system. In a control
system, the final output or response of the system is controlled by varying the input,
and hence it named so.
Based on the control mechanism used, the control systems can be classified into
the two types namely, feedback control system and feed forward control
system.
The fundamental difference between the feedback control system and feed forward
control system is that in the case of feedback control system, the corrective action is
taken after the output gets affected by the disturbance, while in the case of feed
forward control system, the corrective action is taken before the disturbance of the
output.

Q) What is a Feedback Control System?

A type of control system in which the corrective action is taken after the occurrence
of disturbance in the output, it is called a feedback control system. The feedback
control system is a type of closed loop control system in which a feedback signal is
used to regulate the behavior of the system. The block diagram of a feedback
control system is shown in Figure 1.
 Input
Feedback
Controller

Disturbances

Output

Process

Manipulated Input

Figure 1 -Feedback Control System

In the case of a feedback control system, the system output

is monitored and compared with a reference value. If there is any difference
between the actual output and the desired output, then a control signal is generated
to regulate the system to produce the desired output.
In simple words, a feedback control system is one in which the output of the system
is sampled and fed back to the input side so that the system can produce the
desired output.
Feedback control systems are widely used industrial automation and process control
applications.

What is a Feed Forward Control System?

A feed forward control system is a type of control system in which the corrective
action is taken before the occurrence of disturbances in the output of the system.
In the case of a feed forward control system, the control mechanism anticipates the
variations in the input signal of the system and regulates the output of the system in
advance of these variations. For making adjustments in the output, the feed forward
control system does not relay on the feedback signal.
In other words, the control system which can predict variations in the input signals in
advance and can adjust the system output based on the these predictions is
referred to as a feed forward control system.
The block diagram of a typical feed forward control system is shown in Figure 2.
 Disturbances

Input
Feed forward
Controller

Process Output

Manipulated Input

Figure2 -Feedforward Control System

This type of control system is mainly used where the relationship between the input and
output of the system is either known or predictable. One of the important features of the feed
forward control systems is that they respond quickly to variations in the input signal. A
heating system is a typical example of a feed forward control system.

Difference between Feedback Control System and Feed Forward Control

System

Feed Forward Control

Parameter Feedback Control System
System

Definition A type of control system in A type of control system in

which the corrective action is
taken after the occurrence of
disturbance in the output of
the system is referred to as a
feedback control system.
which the corrective action is
taken before the occurrence
of disturbance in the output of
the system is referred to as a
feed forward control system.

Adjustment in In the feedback control In the feed forward control

output system, the output is adjusted system, the output is adjusted
according to the feedback according to the predication
signal. of variations in the input
 signal.

Nature of system Feedback control system is Feed forward control system

reactive in nature, which is proactive in nature. That
means it responds to means it responds to
variations in the output after changes in the output before
they have occurred. they have occurred.

Response speed Feedback control systems are Feed forward control systems
relatively slower to respond to are faster to respond to
variations in the input signal. changes in the input signal.

Corrective actions Feedback control systems Feed forward control systems

take the necessary corrective take the necessary corrective
actions after the occurrence actions before the occurrence
of disturbances in the output. of disturbances in the output.

Adjustment of In the feedback control In the feed forward control

control variables system, the control variables system, the control variables
are adjusted based on errors are adjusted based on
occurred in the output. predication of variations in the
input signal.

Effectiveness Feedback control systems are Feed forward control systems

against more effective at dealing with are relatively less effective in
disturbances disturbances that affect the compensating the
system output. disturbances that affect the
system output.

Implementation Feedback control systems are Feed forward control systems

ease easier to implement. are relatively complex to
implement.

Type of system Feedback control system is a Feed forward control is a type

type of closed loop control of open loop control system
system because it measures as it does not measure
changes in the output. changes in the output.

System stability If the feedback loop of the Feed forward control system
system is not properly is often a stable system.
implemented, then it can
cause instability of the
feedback control system.

Regulating system Feedback control systems Feed forward control systems

can be employed for can be employed for
regulating linear as well non- regulating only the linear
 linear systems.
Suitability Feedback control systems are
better suited for controlling
systems that have
unpredictable disturbances in
the output.
Applications Feedback control systems are
used in engineering and
automation in different
industries such as robotics,
manufacturing, process
control, etc.
systems.
Feed forward control systems
are better suited for
controlling systems that have
predictable disturbances in
the output.
Feed forward control systems
are mainly used in special
applications like in defense,
aerospace, etc