Step 11: Go Deeper with Recursive Analysis
Your First Complete System Model
You've built your first complete system model with:
External relationships - inputs, outputs, waste, sources, and sinks
Boundary management - specialized handlers for each interface
Internal processing - subsystems that transform inputs into outputs
You now understand how your system works at a high level.
Every Subsystem is Itself a System
Here's where BERT becomes really powerful: every subsystem you've created can be analyzed as a system in its own right.
Click on any subsystem to make it your new system of interest (SOI) and start the analysis process again at a deeper level.
Going Deeper - When and How
Which subsystems to analyze first:
Start with the most critical or mysterious ones:
Internal processors that do complex transformations
Boundary handlers that seem to do a lot of work
Subsystems you're trying to improve or understand better
Examples from our model library:
Cell: Click on "Mitochondria" to understand cellular energy production
Organization: Click on "Manufacturing" to understand production processes
Solar Panel: Click on "Photovoltaic Cells" to understand energy conversion
LLM: Click on "Attention Mechanism" to understand how it processes information
The Recursive Process
When you click on a subsystem, you restart Steps 1-10 within that subsystem:
Define the subsystem as your new system of interest
Identify its outputs - what does this subsystem produce for other parts of your system?
Map its interfaces - how does it connect to other subsystems?
Add its waste - what byproducts does this subsystem create?
Identify its inputs - what does this subsystem need from others?
Validate the logic - does the input-output story make sense?
Add boundary handlers - how does this subsystem manage its connections?
Add internal processors - what components work inside this subsystem?
When to Stop Decomposing
You can continue this process indefinitely, but stop when:
You understand enough for your analysis goals
Further detail doesn't help your decision-making
You reach atomic components that can't be meaningfully decomposed further
Explore Advanced Examples
See recursive analysis in action through our Model Browser:
Load complex systems that show multiple levels of decomposition
Study how different domains handle hierarchical analysis
Learn patterns for effective system modeling
Systems Analysis Mastery
You've learned the fundamentals of systems analysis with BERT. You can now:
Analyze any complex system using the recursive methodology you've learned
Build comprehensive models that capture both structure and relationships
Navigate between levels to focus on the right level of detail for your needs
The power of systems analysis comes from understanding that every complex system is made of simpler systems, which are themselves made of even simpler systems. You now have the tools to navigate this hierarchy and understand systems at any level of detail.
Click on any subsystem in your model to continue your analysis!
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