Systems and Processes – Is There a Difference ?

Abstract At a time when we are more conscious than ever before of the interconnectedness of our actions we are still publishing international standards that ignore the advances made in system theory and process management since the 1950s. David Hoyle author of the ISO 9000 Quality Systems Handbook, shows that we are rooted in the past using standards that promote unhelpful models of systems and processes. He highlights the key differences between systems and processes and how we can gain a better understanding of the interacting variables that determine organizational outcomes and thus enable us to manage processes and systems more effectively.