Systems in an Organization

by Jennifer Yu

Concepts & Learnings:

Before we understand the systems of an organization, let us first know what organizational development is. Organization Development is a process of planned change.

Nature of planned change:
-O.D. is directed at bringing about planned change.
-to increase organizational effectiveness.

4 activities on how can change be accomplished:
1) Entering and contracting
2) Diagnosing
3) Planning and implementing
4) Evaluating and institutionalizing

Characteristics of a system:

• Holistic
• Emergent
• Hierarchical
• Dynamic
• Will vary depending on its observers

Other characteristics of a system:

• homeostasis - a process of bringing back a system to its equilibrium when external forces disturbed it.
  
• "Unless energy is continually focused on this activity, the process of entropy causes energy within a system to dissipate and become random." (N.A., 1999)
  

Force field analysis

• driving forces/refreezing
• restraining forces/unfreezing
• change event/movement

System

- is a structure of an orderly whole showing how the parts is interrelated to each other and to the whole itself.

System Boundaries














Blondin System

• Focal system
• Sub-system
• Macro-system
• Related system
• Mega-system

Reflection:

From what I have learned in our Ochange class, I can say that I am now aware of organizations and its systems; on how it works in general. Thus, there is a process for everything; a systematic way of doing things. As a result, I now know how to deal with some problems in the organization, and how to solve problems effectively and creatively.

All the lessons helped me understand how organization works, how to deal with certain situations and what are the probable things (conceptual blocks) that can hinder us from doing our work well. Never hesitate to see new ideas and be open to changes. Change is something that everybody will undergo through in some point in time, all we need to do is embrace the change and see how we can cope with it.

We and our organization should always be open to changes and not get stuck with the old fashion way of doing things because of stereotyping based on past experiences. But our organization can always have its boundaries on up to what extent will we allow the environment to flow in and out of our organization.

Systems also help us know what and where to start solve the problems in an organization depending on your focus on the organization. Nevertheless it can help us determine the hierarchy and let each department focus on its field of interest to be able to work to the best of its ability.


References:

Cummings, Thomas and Christopher Worley. ORGANIZATION DEVELOPMENT & CHANGE. 8th edition

N.A., (1999). Characteristics of a system. Internet. Retrieved July 12, 2010 from, http://ide.ed.psu.edu/change/systems-characteristics-3.htm

N.A. (N.D.). Module 10a: overview of data collection techniques. Internet. Retrieved July 18, 2010 from, http://www.idrc.ca/en/ev-56606-201-1-DO_TOPIC.html


Pictures:
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/aa/Basic_Open_System_Model.gif
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/b6/System_boundary.svg/682px-System_boundary.svg.png
http://www.mediabistro.com/agencyspy/original/change.jpg