Horizontal Connections
Vertical Connections
Physical and Organisational Components
Hierarchy of Systems

 

Horizontal Connections

Technological systems include similar components that are interrelated such as a number of power stations to feed the electricity system or a number of roads that are part of the transport system.

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Vertical Connections

Technological systems also include vertical components. For example an electricity generating system includes elements that involve every stage of the generating process starting with coal mines, through power plants, transmission lines, manufacture of electrical goods, sale of electrical goods, electricians etc.

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Physical and Organisational Components

Thomas Hughes' study of electricity generating systems was based on the idea of viewing a set of related technologies as part of a system. Hughes' technological system included physical artifacts such as turbogenerators, transformers and power lines; organisations such as manufacturing firms, utility companies and banks; scientific components such as publications, research programs and university courses; laws; and natural resources such as coal mines. All these elements are interacting components of a system which the engineer attempts to bring together, coordinate, manipulate and build upon.

Because components of a technological system interact, their characteristics derive from the system. For example, the management structure of an electric light and power utility, as suggested by its organizational chart, depends on the character of the functioning hardware, or artifacts, in the system. In turn, management in a technological system often chooses technical components that support the structure, or organizational form, of management.

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Hierarchy of Systems

Within any system there will be subsystems and technological systems are often part of a larger system. So an electricity generating system includes components that can be considered as technological systems in their own right. An example would be the manufacture and sale of electrical goods.

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Reference:

Thomas Hughes, Networks of Power: Electrification in Western Society, 1880-1930 (Baltimore and London: John Hopkins University Press, 1983).