System integration

From Geography

System integration

System

A system is a collection of actors, units and different phenomena that all have some sort of relation with eachother. The system is an interactive set of interconnected units, each with their own task. An example of a system is the Radboud University, but you could also think of the Dutch society for instance (Werlen, 2009).

Integration

With system integration the implementation of a new system, of a new/other way of thinking, is meant. This new system is assemblaged by putting two or more existing systems together into one extensive variant.

In the information technology, where the origin of the concept lies, system integration is the merging of different computing systems and software into one functionally whole. A simple example of such a system is a wifi-network at someones home. Various computers, desktops and smartphones work together with one internetaccespoint. All the devices share the bandwith together in a way that all of them have an equal amount and the system keeps working.

System integration in geography

System integration can, however it is originally used in more technological fields, be used in geography. An example is a system of clustered companies that together are responsible for a technological change that influences the thinking about living close to a city (a new way of transportation).

References (according APA conventions)

• Werlen, B. (2009) Structurationist Geography. In: International Encyclopedia for Human Geography. Elsevier.

Contributors

• page created by TeunVanDeVen 11:10, 24 October 2012 (CEST)