International Encyclopedia of Systems and Cybernetics

1)"Any change over time of matter, energy or information" (J.G. MILLER, 1978, p.23).

2) "A sequence of behavior corresponding to a goal-producing function in a system" (Adapted from R.L. ACKOFF, 1972).

M. CEREIJIDO writes: "Systems do not undergo processes; they are the forms that manifest the processes" (1978, p.32). Obviously, as observed by E. JANTSCH (1976), suppression of processes with the illusory goal to stabilize structures, would lead to the total (and impossible) blocking and invariability of the system, while fugacity of structures would produce a total lack of coherence in processes. In none of these cases could a system survive.

A process presents three basic aspects:

- A function of transference in time, through storage or memory;

- Functions of transfer in space, i. e. displacements or transmission;

- Functions corresponding to morphologic changes: variations in form, or of information content. (After J.C. LUGAN, 1993, p.95).

Of course, any process is energy driven and any transference is in space and time.

MILLER writes: "If the equation describing a process is the same, no matter the temporal variable, it is a reversible process; otherwise it is irreversible, or better less readily reversible" (Ibid).

He adds: "Process includes the ongoing function of a system, reversible actions succeeding each other from moment to moment… Process also includes history, less readily reversed changes like mutations, birth, growth, development, aging and death; changes which commonly follow trauma or disease; and changes resulting from learning which are not later forgotten" (Ibid).

All these "less reversible" changes are practically totally irreversible. Further comments of MILLER show that the word "reversible" must be understood as "which can be replaced or reconstructed" and not in its abstract mathematical meaning "time invariant" (see the critique of the concept of reversibility).

As to ACKOFF, he comments: "The sequence of behavior that is performed by the electronic rat constitutes a maze-solving process… The metabolic process in living things is a similar type of sequence the goal of which is acquisition of energy or, more generally, survival… Process behavior displayed by the system may be either reactive, responsive, or active" (Ibid).