'system-centered' originates from the combination of 'system' and 'centered', where 'system' refers to a set of connected things or parts forming a complex whole, and 'centered' means focused or concentrated around a central point.

'System-centered' evolved from the need to describe approaches or methods that prioritize systems over other elements.

Initially, it meant 'focused on a central system', and this meaning has largely remained the same in modern usage.