View: System Structure (Pattern of Organization)

System Element: Identification and Relationships

The embedded economy model from Kate Raworth, 2017

Kate Raworth has stated that the concept of this model is based upon the Ecological Economics model presented by Herman E. Daly. (See Beyond Growth, Figure 3: The Economy as an open subsystem of the ecosystem). The additional area of Environmental Economics also supports this model. In addition to the alignment of the structure to purpose, the structure is also aligned to an ecological worldview.

Each of the elements of the system will be described in detail in each section. Each layer provides the context and elements for the next layer. The following networks of systems will be included in this section:

Networks of systems:

• Earth
  • Ecosystem
• Society
  • Social Systems
  • Human Activity System (HAS)
• Economy
  • Human Activity Infrastructure Services
• Human Activity Ecosystems

In addition to the structure identified in the embedded economy model, the system classification structure identified by Peter Checkland in his book Systems Thinking, Systems Practice will also be used.

The Top Level System Classes are the following:

• Natural System
• Human Activity System
• Designed Physical System
• Designed Abstract System
• Transcendental System

Link to the Top System Classifications PDF

This set of systems provides an excellent way to integrate Human Activities into the model of the Earth. Each of the systems provides a top level reference point for most systems found in the Earth Systems model.