Prepping for a Course in Systems Theory and Systems Engineering

Revisiting General System Theory

As I prepare for my upcoming course in Systems Theory and Systems Engineering, I’ve been rereading General System Theory by Ludwig von Bertalanffy — a book that laid much of the groundwork for modern systems thinking.

Bertalanffy’s writing can be dense and opinionated at times, but his ideas are undeniably thought-provoking. Concepts like teleology, open systems, and closed systems still hold up when you start applying them to how people, organizations, and technology interact today.

What draws me back to systems theory is how it encourages a broader view — seeing relationships, feedback, and structure instead of isolated parts. Preparing for this course has reminded me that understanding complexity is less about control and more about connection.