The purpose of a system is what it does

The purpose of a system is what it does (POSIWID) is a systems thinking heuristic coined by Stafford Beer,^[1] who observed that there is "no point in claiming that the purpose of a system is to do what it constantly fails to do."^[2] The term is widely used by systems theorists, and is generally invoked to counter the notion that the purpose of a system can be read from the intentions of those who design, operate, or promote it. When a system's side effects or unintended consequences reveal that its behavior is poorly understood, then the POSIWID perspective can balance political understandings of system behavior with a more straightforwardly descriptive view.

Origins of the term

Stafford Beer coined the term POSIWID and used it many times in public addresses. In his address to the University of Valladolid, Spain, in October 2001, he said:^[1]

According to the cybernetician, the purpose of a system is what it does. This is a basic dictum. It stands for bald fact, which makes a better starting point in seeking understanding than the familiar attributions of good intention, prejudices about expectations, moral judgment, or sheer ignorance of circumstances.

Uses

From a cybernetic perspective, complex systems are not controllable by simple notions of management, and interventions in a system can best be understood by looking at how they affect observed system behavior. The term is used in many other fields as well, including biology^[3] and management.^[4] Whereas a cybernetician may apply the principle to the results inexorably produced by the mechanical dynamics of an activity system, a management scientist may apply it to the results produced by the self-interest of actors who play roles in a business or other institution.

See also

• Duck test
• The proof of the pudding is in the eating (Wiktionary)

References

1. Beer, Stafford (2002-01-01). "What is cybernetics?". Kybernetes. 31 (2): 209–219. doi:10.1108/03684920210417283. ISSN 0368-492X.
2. Komlos, David; Benjamin, David (2021-09-13). "The Purpose Of A System Is What It Does, Not What It Claims To Do". Forbes. Archived from the original on 2021-09-13. Retrieved 2022-06-11.
3. Hofmeyr, Jan-Hendrik S. (2007). "The biochemical factory that autonomously fabricates itself: A systems biological view of the living cell". In Boogerd, Fred C.; et al. (eds.). Systems biology : philosophical foundations (1st ed.). Amsterdam: Elsevier. p. 224. ISBN 978-0-444-52085-2. OCLC 162587033.
4. Ward, Aidan; Smith, John (2003). Trust and mistrust : radical risk strategies in business relationships. Chichester, West Sussex: Wiley. ISBN 978-0-470-85318-4. OCLC 51966365.

External links

• What is Cybernetics? Conference by Stafford Beer (video recording)