Component
A distinct part within a system that performs specific functions and interacts with other components. Components may themselves be systems (subsystems) or atomic (irreducible).
Formal Definitions
Mobus & Kalton (2015):
“All systems contain components that internally operate (behave) to produce the process that the system entails. Components may themselves be systems, or atomic, i.e., irreducible.”
(Principles of Systems Science, Section 3.4.2.1.2.6)
The formal definition uses set notation with fuzzy membership:
“C is a set of components and their ‘type’ along with membership functions in the event the set is fuzzy, that is, the components may have partial inclusion.”
(Section 4.3, Eq. 4.2)
Bunge (1979):
“The A-composition of σ at a given time t is the set of its A-parts at t: C_A(σ, t) = {x ∈ A | x ⊂ σ}”
(A World of Systems, Definition 1.2, Chapter 1)
Synthesis
Mobus emphasizes recursive decomposition — components can be further decomposed into subsystems or identified as atomic primitives. Bunge provides a time-parameterized set-theoretic definition, acknowledging that composition can change. Both treat components as the building blocks of system structure, but Mobus explicitly allows hierarchical nesting.
Key Insight
The choice of what counts as a component depends on the level of analysis. The same entity might be a component at one level and a system at another.
Explore Further
- Components must be listed first — Bunge’s methodological order
- Analytical kinematics — Component linkage analysis
- Black boxes model components — Component vs system modeling
- Integration through connectivity — How components bind systems together