Open Systems Accomplish Groups' Goals

 

Cyclical Pattern

Sum of its parts and how it interacts in prescribed fashion meets goals.  Specific goals.  Organizational goals.  Start out in a system with the following responses:  inputs, responses to inputs, outputs, feedbacks, and further inputs based on the feedbacks.  The model has been realized in car engines, industrial firms, and Department of Interior.  

    1.)  Demand for action is assembled; 

    2.)  Resources to pursue organizational objective is supplied; 

    3.)  Value outside of organizational structure responds; 

    4.)  Support for organizational goal has now been realized.  

While closed systems value control, stability, and predictability with few internal variables and little to no change in the environment, open systems permit sum of each parts that contribute to the whole which then interacts with the larger environment. 

 

 

Human Digestive System as an Example of an Open System

Theorist James Thompson states:  “a system contains more variables than we can comprehend at one time, and some of the variables are subject to influences we cannot control or predict.”  Open systems encourage variables to interact creating change and ultimately accomplishing specific goals.  But can the system regulate itself?  Yes.  Homeostasis governs the relationships between its parts and activities keeping the system viable through disturbances which stem from the environment.  Homeostasis self-stabilizes the whole system as it interacts with the larger environment.  Unlike closed systems, the external environment impacts the organizational activities.  An active relationship occurs between the organization and the environment; as changes in the environment occur, the organization is triggered to adapt to its changes.

 

Power Plant supplying electricity as an open system

Outputs include services rendered, favorable images shaped by steps, rules for proper authority, demands for change adjusted, and reallocating resources.  An example is a private marketing company that changes its product fitting to changing consumer’s preferences.  Another example is an organization that is under criticism creating citizen or employee participation.

 

 

Open systems does not exclude parts or outsiders that are not part of the organization.  Members are willing to tailor their hustle-bustles in meeting the needs and wants.  Open systems seek homeostasis because it continuously interacts with its environment. 

(1.)  Balance pressures and responses;

(2.)  Demands and Resources;

(3.)  Employee incentives and benefits/pensions. 

 

Organization gains stability; it is treated as whole beings.  Organizations running on open systems have 10 vital characteristics: 

Characteristics	Examples
1.)     Bring in energy from external environment.	a.)    Cell receives oxygen into the blood stream.         b.)   Draw renewed supplies of energy from people, outside organizations, and environment.
2.)     Alter/shift energy.	a.)    Body alters sugar and starch in heat.         b.)   Organization creates new product/services.
3.)    Issue product into the environment.	a.)    Biological organisms send out carbon monoxide.         b.)   Engineering company builds a bridge.
4.)    Energy exchange has a cyclical pattern:  product export supplies resources for a repeat cycle.	a.)    Raw materials and human labor à marketed product  à Profit  à Back to raw materials and human labor  à marketed product à Profit.
5.)    Stop decaying by acquiring more energy from the environment they spend.	a.)    Organization has margin or reserves for resources in need.
6.)    Receive information and negative feedback from the environment and simplify it in group brackets.	a.)    Thermostat adjusts the temperature by feedbacks.         b.)   Power plants supply and distribute electricity through feedbacks.
7.)    Constancy in energy exchange in relation to its related parts preserves the system.	a.)     Human body temperature stays the same regardless of outside conditions.         b.)   Endocrine glands provide physiological functions.
8.)   Sift or Specify/Elaborate.	a.)   Humans evolved from simple cells.         b.)   Organization evolves to specialize.  (i.e.  medicine)
9.)   As it sifts, it is off-set by 2 processes for joined use: ·         Integration ·        Coordination	a.)    Groups integrate with shared norms/values.         b.)   Organizations set fixed controls.  ·         Set priorities ·         Locate habits ·         Schedule activities
10.)  Get to the final place by varying shapes/forms and paths.	a.)    Some varying initial form develops into a biological organism.