A system is a way of doing things - like algebra, A+B = C.

The inputs can change, but the formula stays the same.

When you don't know what what you don't know, you need a system to help you figure out what to do next.

In his book, A More Beautiful Question, Warren Berger offers us a system for bring "some semblance of order to a process that is by nature, chaotic and unpredictable."

Why + What If + How = Solution.

Here's an example from the book:

• Person encounters a situation that is less than ideal: asks Why.

• Person begins to come up with ideas for possible improvement/solutions - with such ideas usually surfacing in the form of What If possibilities.

• Person takes one of those possibilities and tries to implement it or make it real; this mostly involves figuring out How.

Try the system out.
Test the results.
Tweak the inputs.
Try again.

Also...

Unrelated but just as interesting and pleasing... W(hole)+W(hole)+H(alf) is also the combination of intervals required to reach a major third above any tonic... it's a pleasing interval.