Interactions Between Systems

Abstract

On the basis of previous contributions about a methodology for the decomposition of systems, we attempt to investigate the interaction between subsystems. When considering the problem of decomposition of systems, different interaction levels can be evidenced and then a classification scheme can be defined. Some relation patterns in a decomposition can be interpreted as hierarchical levels showing the emergence of some hierarchical structure. The attitude (subjective or objective) and the methodological approach give the basic conditions for the application of these concepts. The preliminary analysis regarding the control of an industrial plant may be an useful example to test these ideas and to evaluate the interaction of critical subsystems, like human operator or critical control functions.