Discussion Thread: Using the Systems
Theories Lens
Discuss how the following Guiding Questions—which are based on the
systems theories lens—help you better understand your organization.
Include in your discussion thread the strengths and weaknesses of this lens
for gaining that understanding.You do not have to share your views on each
of the guiding questions.
Guiding Questions
1. What is the cycle of production for this organization?
i.e., what are we about as an organization?
a. What do we bring in (input), how do we use it
and form our product (throughput)?
b. What do we send out into the larger world
(output)?
2. Are we open to negative feedback from the sub and
super systems?
a. What are we doing to reverse the entropy of
the system?
b. Are we exploring other paths to the ends
(equifinality)?
3. What is our proper place in the broader society and
economy? Issue: genotypic function (Productive,
Maintenance, Adaptive, Managerial/Political)
4. Are we balancing our need for profit with a long-term
view of survival? The issue is the Maximization
Principle
5. How are we scanning the environment? What do we
know about the environmental sectors? (Economic,
political, social, etc.)
Please note, this assignment should not be a reiteration of the answers you
use in your case study, rather, for this discussion, you are being asked to
discuss how answering the questions help you to better understand your
