ABSTRACT
Like most words, the term “control” has multiple meanings and is used in different senses. Webster’s mentions 15 of its meanings. In this chapter, we will discuss those of its values, details, and nuances that are used in the practices of applied systems analysis, that is, in the process of solving any problem. So, the basic definition of control now is “the purposeful influence on a system”.
This is a rephrasing of the concept of “transformative activity” introduced earlier: the subject tries to change reality and to bring its state closer to the desired one.
The full description of any system is presentation of all three of its models (black box, constituent parts, and structure). Let’s start from analysis of our concept of control.
