Control system design: A General Systems Theory perspective

The aim in this paper is to look at some important issues involved in control system design from a General Systems Theory (GST) perspective, and propose a framework for the purpose. This particular framework is presented in the context of a soft system design methodology, which is general enough to include both hard and soft issues involved in the design of socio-technical systems. It includes a series of ongoing cybernetic and fluid design functions, guiding the designer through the Policy Making/Pre-planning, Evaluation, and Action Implementation phases systematically. The framework also includes a life-cycle methodology and a cybernetic control structure for structuring the design process. The paper also includes some considerations for the formation of the framework.