What's the essential difference between a structure and a system?

Answer 1

A structure is generally fixed and provides a framework. An example of a structure in business is the COSO framework which enables good business controls to be built which allows the entire business to function in an organized fashion.

A system is usually dynamic and functional. An example of a system in business is Oracle software, which does many functional aspects of business including accounting, selling, building and shipping, payments and tracking- recording and reporting of transactions.. The database may be considered a system while the data is structured in a certain manner, just as syntax may be a structural element of a program.

In architecture, I think that you might consider the building framework and foundation as structure, with the HVAC and other systems for power, light and communications as systems.

I hope that is a good comparison.

Answer 2

In simple description: a system moves things, a process constructs and transforms and a structure is the form for that system/process. Structure is as much conceptual as it is physical and system is as active with material as it is active in human imagination. Structure and system are of one thing, then this one thing is conjoined with these concepts as their metaphors are identified.