GENERAL SYSTEMS THEORY

TARIQ RAHIM

Ludwig von Bertanlaffy

Trained Held

as a biologist

positions in Austria, Canada, the United States, and England research to psychology and biophysics

Extended

Theories

later applied across disciplines

Ludwig von Bertanlaffy

Put forward in 1968 a theory known as General Systems Theory. The theory attempted to provide alternatives to conventional models of organization.

Brief Introduction to General Systems Theory and Its Applications

Systems

Movement

Since the fundamental character of living things is its organization, the customary investigation of individual parts and processes cannot provide a complete explanation of the phenomenon of life. This investigation gives us no information about the coordination of parts and processes. Thus the chief task of biology must be to discover the laws of biological systems (at all levels of organization). We believe that the attempts to find a foundation at this theoretical level point at fundamental changes in the world picture. This view, considered as a method of investigation, we call organismic biology and, as an attempt at an explanation, the system theory of the organism. (von Bertalanffy, 1934)

Brief Introduction to General Systems Theory and Its Applications (continue) From this statement and seemingly unsolvable problems in practice, such as prediction of zero-probability disastrous weather conditions, we see the concept of systems was formally introduced. As tested in the past 90 some years, this concept has been widely accepted by the entire spectrum of science and technology

Some of historical milestones

1948, Norbert Wieners paper: Cybernetics or Control and Communication in the Animal and the Machine. 1954, Ludwig von Bertalanffy, Anatol Rapoport, Ralph W. Gerard, Kenneth Boulding establish Society for the Advancement of General Systems Theory, in 1956 renamed to Society for General Systems Research. 1955, W. Ross Ashbys work: Introduction to Cybernetics 1968, Ludwig von Bertalanffys work: General System theory: Foundations, Development, Applications 1988, the Society for General Systems Research is renamed as International Society for Systems Sciences

Some of historical milestones

Klir (2001):

Systems thinking focuses on those properties of systems and associated problems that emanate from the general notion of systemhood, while the divisions of the classical science have been done largely on properties of thinghood, systems research naturally transcends all the disciplines of the classical science and becomes a force making the existing disciplinary

boundaries totally irrelevant and superficial.

Basic Concepts
Systems

methodology

Quastler (1965): employs the concepts of a black box and a white box to show research problems (of the past) can be represented as white boxes, and their environments as black boxes. The objects of systems are classified into several categories Through a set of rules, policies, and regulations, sensors and effectors do what they are supposed to do

Principles of General Systems Theory

n

Laws that govern biological open systems can be applied to systems of any form.
Open-Systems Theory Principles Parts that make up the system are interrelated. Health of overall system is contingent on subsystem functioning. Open systems import and export material from and to the environment. Permeable boundaries (materials can pass through) Relative openness (system can regulate permeability) Synergy (extra energy causes nonsummativity--whole is greater than sum of parts) Equifinality vs. one best way.

Systems Theory Emphasizes:

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Synergy Interdependence Interconnections

within the organization between the organization and the environment

Organization as ORGANISM

General Theoretical Distinctions

n

Previous theories prescribe organizational behavior, organizational structure or managerial practice (prediction and control). MACHINE
Systems theory provides an analytical framework for viewing an organization in general (description and explanation). ORGANISM

Strengths
n

Recognizes . . .

interdependence of personnel impact of environment on organizational structure and function effect of outside stakeholders on the organization

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Focuses on environment and how changes can impact the organization Seeks to explain synergy & interdependence Broadens the theoretical lens for viewing organizational behavior.

Contingency Theory
n

First extension of Systems Theory into Management Practice - CONTINGENCY THEORY

There is no one best way to structure and manage organizations. Structure and management are contingent on the nature of the environment in which the organization is situated. Argues for finding the best communication structure under a given set of environmental circumstances.

Two Contingency Theories

n

Burns and Stalker (1968) Management of Innovation

Organizational systems should vary based on the level of stability in the environment Two different types of management systems
Mechanistic systems - appropriate for stable environment n Organic systems - required in changing environments (unstable conditions) Management is the Dependent Variable
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n

Variations in environmental factors lead to management

Lawrence and Lorsch (1969)

Key Issue is environmental uncertainty and information flow Focus on exploring and improving the organizations relationship with the environment Environment is characterized along a certainty-uncertainty continuum

Summary
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Systems Theory is NOT a prescriptive management theory Attempts to widen lens through which we examine and understand organizational behavior Key Concepts Synergy Interdependence Interconnections Organization is treated not as a machine but an organism Organizations cannot separate from their environment Organizational teams or subsystems cannot operate in isolation