Week 5: Agenda the system perspective

Clive brings an insight on systems and its processes, resources, and the different ways systems are managed and efficient

WHAT ARE THE SCHOOLS OF MANAGEMENT OF THOUGHT?

·      Classical

         -E.g. Scientific management

 

·      Humanistic

-e.g. behavioral

 

·      Modelling

-Systems theory

-Decision making using data analytics

WHAT ARE THE GENERAL SYSTEMS THEORY?

Ludwig von Bertalanffy (1968)

WHAT ARE LIVING SYSTEMS?

J G Miller (1978)

WHAT ARE CLOSED SYSTEMS?

the system is tightly controlled Within tight boundaries, with all inputs and outputs being within those boundaries

WHAT ARE OPEN SYSTEMS?

are open to their environment

WHAT ARE PERMEABLE BOUNDARIES?

info/resources flowing in and out

WHAT IS A SYSTEM ACCORDING TO KROENKE (2012)?

“A group of components that interact to achieve some purpose”

WHAT IS A SYSTEM ACCORDING TO CONSTABLE AND NEW (1976)?

“Anything formed of parts placed together or adjusted into a regular and connected whole; a set of things considered as a connected whole”

WHAT IS MACHINE APPROACH?

Machine looks at:

·      Organization as a machine

·      Consistent performance

·      Assumes no change like a closed system

·      All parts are required to process, basically the machine is the parts combined

·      Goals greater efficiency, productivity, control

·      FW Taylor: ‘The one best way’

WHAT IS SYSTEMS APPROACH?

·      Organization as a working system

·      Flexibility

·      Assumes change occurs—an unpredictable environment

·      More than sum of the parts

·      Goals: negotiated

·      Assess different ways to accomplish goals

WHAT IS ORGANIZATIONAL FUNCTIONS PERSPECTIVES?

·      Existence of sub systems in different departments

·      Dividing or segmenting the management to handle complexity of the task

·      Area off expertise or specialization

·      Need to remain aware of the whole system as much as different sub systems are divided

WHAT DOES INTERDEPENDENCE MEAN IN SYSTEMS?

Sub systems within the system are inter-related and interdependent not isolated

 

WHAT IS A MANAGEMENT SYSTEM?

A no. of related processes that are planned/ managed together to achieve an objective

WHAT IS HOLISTIC MANAGEMENT APPROACH?

Systems to be considered a whole

System is greater than the sum of its parts

WHAT IS THE ORGANISATIONAL SYSTEM?

Inputs—> TRANSFOROMATIONAL PROCESS--—>outputs

WHAT IS POSITIVE FEEDBACK?

alters the system to enhance current process

WHAT IS NEGATIVE FEEDBACK?

to correct or otherwise address deviations from achieving the objectives of the system

WHAT ARE TYPICAL FEATURES OF A PROCESS?

·      Structured activities/ tasks

·      Responds to a specific event

·      Purposeful to deliver a specific result

·      Defined objectives

·      Defined customers

·      Efficiency

·      Standards and policies

·      Measurable/performance driven

 

WHAT ARE RESOURCES THAT SUPPORT A PROCESS?

·      People

·      Technology

·      Materials

·      Data/info

·      Knowledge

·      Management

·      Defined roles/responsibilities

·      Accountable process owners

·      Continuous process improvement

WHAT IS EFFICIENCY?

done right the first time

WHAT IS SYSTEM ENTROPY?

Without proper attention and supervision= organizational system becomes disorganized

WHAT IS A SYSTEM ACCORDING TO BETZ (2007)?

“A set of activities, usually executed in sequence, that results in one or more specific business objectives”

WHAT IS A SYSTEM ACCORDING TO MORECROFT ET AL (2013)?

“A set of coordinated activities combining and implementing resources and capabilities in order to produce an outcome, which directly or indirectly creates value for an external customer or stakeholder”