Systems Theory and An Organization

1. Systems theory has had a significant effect on management science and understanding organizations. A system is a collection of parts unified to accomplish an overall goal. If one part of the system is removed, the nature of the system is changed as well. For example, a pile of sand is not a system. If one removes a sand particle, you’ve still got a pile of sand. However, a functioning car is a system. Remove the carburetor and you’ve no longer got a working car. A system can be looked at as having inputs, processes, outputs and outcomes. Systems share feedback among each of these four aspects of the systems.

2. Let’s look at an organization. Inputs would include resources such as raw materials, money, technologies and people. These inputs go through a process where they’re planned, organized, motivated and controlled, ultimately to meet the organization’s goals. Outputs would be products or services to a market. Feedback would be information from human resources carrying out the process, customers/clients using the products, etc. feedback also comes from the larger environment of the organization, e.g., influences from government, society, economics, and technologies. This overall system framework applies to any system, including subsystems (departments, programs, etc.).

3. Systems theory may seem quite basic. Yet, decades of management training and practices in the workplace have not followed this theory. This interpretation has brought about a significant change (or paradigm shift) in the way management studies and approaches organizations.

4. The effect of systems theory in management is that writers, educators, consultants, etc. are helping managers to look at the organization from a broader perspective. Systems theory has brought a new perspective for managers to interpret patterns and events in the workplace and recognize the various parts of the organization and the interrelations of the parts.

Определите, является ли утверждение:

Modern management is based on a complex Systems theory.

– ложным;

– истинным;

– в тексте нет информации;

Определите, является ли утверждение:

A system can properly function when all its elements are present.

– в тексте нет информации;

– ложным;

– истинным.

Определите, является ли утверждение:

System theory was only applied to management at the turn of the century.

– ложным;

– в тексте нет информации;

– истинным.

Определите, является ли утверждение:

Without Systems theory there might be no management.

– истинным;

– в тексте нет информации;

– ложным.

Укажите, какой части текста(1,2,3,4) соответствует следующая информация:

Systems theory gives scientists a better understanding of the nature of managing processes.

– 2;

– 3;

– 4;

– 1.

Укажите, какой части текста(1,2,3,4) соответствует следующая информация:

Systems theory revolutionized management science.

– 1;

– 4;

– 2;

– 3.

Ответьте на вопрос:

What is a system?

– A random combination of parts of the same dimension.

– A set of various parts.

– A set of similar parts.

– A combination of parts aimed at achieving a certain goal.

Определите основную идею текста:

– Systems theory in management.

– The basics of the Systems theory.

– Different approaches to scientific management.

– Management training and practices.