The Living Systems Theory Subsystems

from the Perspective of Competitive Advantage

by
Edwin B. Dean

The twenty subsystems of Living Systems Theory and their associated functions as described by Miller (1987) are:

Reproducer [evolve,system] [replicate,system]
Boundary [contain,system] [protect,system]
Ingestor [bringin,matterenergy]
Distributor [distribute,inputs] [distribute,outputs]
Converter [convert,form]
Producer [synthesize,materials] [provide,energy]
Matter-energy storage [store,matterenergy] [retrieve,matterenergy]
Extruder [transmitout,matterenergy]
Motor [move,systemparts]
Supporter [maintain,spatialrelationships]
Input Transducer [bringin,informationmarkers] [transformto,internalinformationmarkerform]
Internal Transducer [receive,subsysteminformationmarkers] [transform,subsysteminformationmarkerform]
Channel and net [route,informationmarkers]
Timer [transmittodecider,timerelatedstates]
Decoder [transformto,privateinformationcode]
Associator [learn,informationassociations]
Memory [store,information] [retrieve,information]
Decider [receive,informationinputs] [generate,systemguidanceoutputs] [generate,systemcoordinationoutputs] [generate,systemcontroloutputs]
Encoder [transformto,publicinformationcode]
Output transducer [output,informationmarkers] [transformto,externalinformationmarkerform]

Miller, J. G. (1987). "Applications of Living Systems Theory to Life in Space," Presented at the NASA-NSF conference The Human Experience in Antartica: Applications to Life in Space, Sunnyvale, CA, USA, 17 August, pp. 231-259.