Reductionism which happens to be a powerful tool of Classical Science also happens to be its weakness. Scientists assume that the components of the whole are the same when examined even in isolation. Scientific methods fail when applied to complex phenomenon such as Human Society, Biological Sciences, Behavioural Sciences, Managerial Sciences, Literature, Spiritual Science etc. In these areas the progress is slow and methodological problems abound.

The shift began in the 1930s in Biology mainly due to Ludwig Von Bertalanffy who explored the old concept of System based on the Aristotelian WHOLISTIC notion that A WHOLE IS MORE THAN THE SUM OF ITS PARTS and advanced the System Philosophy. The pioneers of the Systems movement include Ludwig Von Bertalanffy, W. Ross Ashby, Herman.E. Koenig, Gerald. M. Weinberg, Prem Saran Satsangi, Peter Checkland, John N. Warfield, Andrew P. Sage, Stafford. Beer, Kenneth Boulding, Fagan, James Grier Miller, Jay W. Forrester. These scholars represented a variety of disciplines and fields of study. They recognized a compelling need for a unified and disciplined inquiry into understanding and dealing with increasing complexities; complexities that are beyond the competence of any single discipline. As a result they developed a transdisciplinary perspective that emphasized the intrinsic order and interdependence of the world in all its manifestations.

Central to Systems Theory is the concept of System. According to the Webster’s New International Dictionary ‘A System is an aggregation or assemblage of objects united by some form of regular interaction or interdependence, a group of diverse units so combined by nature or art as to form an integral whole, and to function , operate or move in unison and often in obedience to some form of control.’

The Systems Approach, in contrast to Classical Science, focuses on how the thing being studied interacts with the other constituents of the system, a set of elements that interact to produce behaviour of which it is a part. This means that instead of isolating smaller and smaller parts of the system being studied, systems thinking works by expanding its view to take into account larger and larger numbers of interactions. Therefore, synthesis is a prerequisite for systems thinking. A system will lose its synergetic properties if it is decomposed; it cannot be understood through analysis alone.

According to Peter Checkland, who developed Soft Systems Methodology, “It is not nature which divided itself up into physics, biology, psychology, sociology, etc. it is we who impose these divisions on nature, and they became so ingrained in our thinking that we find it hard to see the unity which underlies the divisions".

Each scientific discipline in classical science has developed its own theoretical scheme. Systems science, on the other hand, transcends these disciplinary boundaries, seeking alikeness (or isomorphs) of principles, concepts and laws that exist in the various realms of experience. The unique power of systems theory is that it can integrate within the framework of systems theory, the findings of the various disciplines. With the perspectives of systems philosophy, one looks at the world in terms of facts and events in the context of wholes. It brings forth a reorganization of ways of thinking and knowing perceived reality, a view manifested in synthetic, expansionist, dynamic and multiple / mutual causality modes of thinking and inquiring.

The special charm of systems thinking relies on its ability to operate with qualitative statements and definitions based on the universal rules of logic, underpinned by simple mathematics and physics. This takes into account ideas generated by the human mind, emotions, spiritual experience, artistic creativity and so on. Systems methodology differs from the methodologies of the other disciplines as their adherence to a particular methodology is important. In Systems inquiry, on the other hand, one selects from a wide range of approaches and tools that best fit, taking into consideration the type of system, the purpose and nature of the inquiry and the specific problem situation.

Systemic perspective comprises four directions: philosophy, theory, methodology and application. Purpose, process, interaction, integration and emergence are salient markers of understanding systems.

Systems Theory has a humanistic base as it does not visualize an individual as a separate entity but one who is in resonance with the universe.

The ailment of fragmentation, due to scientific achievements, made man egocentric, dogmatic, rigid and materialistic. This was asserted by visionaries like Aristotle, Ludwig Von Bertalanffy, Rabindranath Tagore, Dr. S. Radhakrishnan et. al. long back. Tagore’s dream of a unified world, Radhakrishnan’s notion that “knowledge cannot be divided against itself”, Northrop Frye’s plea for a “central co-ordinating principle in literary criticism, a central hypothesis, which will see the phenomena it deals with as parts of a whole”, Rene Wellek’s vision of a “Colourless Superliterature and Universal System” can be realized by adopting a holistic view of the Universe. In the light of the changes sweeping across the world, the International Society for General Systems theory was founded which later became the International Society for Systems Science (ISSS). Prof. Prem Saran Satsangi, founded the Systems Society of India in the year 1981 with a view to unite various splintered disciplines.

Several major developments have taken place which reflect the evolution of the systems movement. Some important strands are Operations Research, Systems Engineering, Cybernetics, Living Systems Theory, System Dynamics, Soft Systems Methodology, Human Systems Theory, Systems Psychology, Systems Science, Systems Design and Critical Systems Theory.

A representative list of references to give an appreciation of Systems Thinking is given here.

1. Ashby W. Ross, Introduction to Cybernetics, Wiley, New York: 1963.
2. S. Beer, Diagnosing the System for Organization, New York: John Wiley and Sons, 1985.
3. P. Checkland, "Science and the Systems Paradigm", International Journal of General Systems, Vol. 3, No. 2, pp.127-134, 1976.
4. Bani Dayal, "Interpretive Structural Modeling of Gita Metha's Raj- a political historical fiction", Paper presented at Paritantra 2008, First Indian Students Systems Conference. Systems Society of India- DEI Dayalbagh Chapter, March 2008.
5. Bani Dayal and Mukti Srivastava, "Variety Management in Modeling a System: a case study of the fictional system represented by the Hindi movie "Sarkar Raj", Paper presented at National Systems Conference (NSC-2008), I.I.T. Roorkee, Dec. 17-19, 2008.
6. Bani Dayal, and P.S. Satsangi, "Managing Complexity in Systems through Neutral Processes of Nominal Group Technique and Interpretive structural Modeling: a novel application from literary field". National Systems Conference (NSC-2008), I.I.T. Roorkee, 2008.
7. H. E. Koenig, Y. Tokad and H. K. Kesavan, Analysis of Discrete Physical Systems, Mc. Graw Hill, New York, 1967.
8. David Pouvreau and Manfred Drack, "On the history of Ludwig von Bertalanffy's "General Systemology", and its relationship to cybernetics", International Journal of General Systems, Vol. 36, No. 3 pp.281-337,2007.
9. P. Andrew Sage, Methodology for Large Scale Systems. New York : McGraw Hill Book Company, 1977.
10. Peter Checkland, Systems Thinking, Systems Practice. England: John Wiley and Sons Ltd, 2007.
11. P. S. Satsangi, "Management of Qualitative Systems Analysis". Prabandh Vol. 1, No.1, 1985.
12. P. S. Satsangi, "Autobiographical Retrospectives: Generalizing Physical System Theory for Applied Systems Research from Real Physical Systems through "Conceptual" Socio-Economic Environmental Systems to "Complete" (Physical - Mental - Spiritual) Creational Systems", International Journal of General Systems, Vol.35, No.2, pp. 127-167, 2006.
13. John N. Warfield and Roxana Cardenas, A Handbook of Interactive Management, Iowa State University Press, 1994.
14. Warfield, John N. An Introduction to Systems Science. Singapore: World Scientific Publishing Company, 2006.
15. G. M. Weinberg, An Introduction to General Systems Thinking, New York, John Wiley, 1975.