Productivity Improvement
Open Systems Approach
Some open system concepts
A system is defined by its properties
- A system is a - physical and / or conceptual entity composed of interrelated and interacting parts existing in an environment with which it may also interact
- The system has a preferred state
- The parts of the system may in turn be systems themselves
Physical and conceptual-entities
Example of physical entities:
- a molecule
- a human being
- the solar system
- a factory
- a machine
Examples of conceptual entities:
- an economy
- a religion
- a firm
Conceptual systems are systems conceived to aid analysis, comprehension, understanding,and for system improvement purposes.
Interacting and interrelated parts
Examples:
- atoms in a molecule;
- organs in a human body;
- sectors of business;
- industries in an economy.
Purpose:
· Functional specialization in attaining or maintaining preferred state.
Existing in an environment (with which systems may interact)
An environment surrounds all systems. The environment contains other systems
- Closed systems do not interact with the environment. A totally closed system is a convenient theoretical abstraction - all systems are affected to some extent by their environment.
- Open systems interact with their environment. The environment may impose conditions and contingencies on the system.
- Conditions. One set of circumstances in the environment, which the system encounters. In a dynamic environment the conditions will change with time.
- Contingency. An unexpected, sharp change in circumstances in the environment, which will disturb the system the system, or place the system under shock.
- Partially closed system is one in which there is little interaction with the environment.
- The closer a system comes to obtaining closure, the more stable internal operations of the system.
- The closer the system comes to closure, the less frequently the system suffers shock.
The system has a preferred state
All systems have a preferred state.
Examples:
- atomic oxygen prefers to be molecular oxygen
- iron metallic prefers to be iron oxide (rust)
- firm prefers to be profitable
- human being prefers to be physiologically and emotionally satisfied.
The environment sets conditions
Externally set condistions will determine whether the preferred state is attainable.
- Given conditions in the environment that favor attainment, the organization of the system will determine whether the preferred state will actually be attained.
- The preferred state of the system may also be influenced by the environment, that is, the preferred state of the system may vary from one set of environmental conditions to another. (In boom times the firm will want to make more profits than during recessions.)
- If the system is disturbed it will attempt to revert back to its preferred state or seek a new preferred state.
Adaptive systems
An adaptive system is one that is capable of responding to changes in the condition of the environment or to contingencies imposed by the environment. A non-adaptive system does not react to its environment.
- A perfectly adaptive system can respond to any change or contingency in the environment.
- All systems lie somewhere between non-adaptive and perfectly adaptive systems.
- In order to continue existing, any open system in a dynamic environment must adapt.
The ability of a system to survive depends on its ability to adapt to change and to shock.
Cognitive systems
Certain systems (mostly those concerned with human beings) are cognitive.
- They have certain parts that are capable of thought. A single human being is a simple example of a cognitive system.
- Cognitive systems are aware of their existence. More than this, they are to a greater or lesser extent aware of the relationship between the system and the environment (for example, In winter it is cold and food is scarce).
- Higher level cognitive systems will also attempt to change the environment to a state more suited to the system's preferred state. (In the winter i build shelters, and heat the shelters with fires, etc.)
Productive systems
We shall define a productive system as a cognitive system which
- purposely interacts with the environment
- transforms these inputs into outputs
- outputs are offered to the environment.
Useful productive systems produce outputs which are needed by the environment or parts of the environment.
