Problems that could arise when using Open Systems Theory and the ways to address them

Problems that could arise when using Open Systems Theory and teh ways to address themThe open system theory has been developed after the World War II as the opposite of the Elton Mayo and Henry Fayol approaches of organization which presented them as a closed system, an autonomous entity with its own characteristics (Bastedo, 2004). We have seen that the organizations present similar structures that are articulated differently depending on goals, resources, stakeholders’ needs and interactions with the environment. The last aspect is the foundation of the open system theory. The organization is not closed on itself as it used to be because there are inputs from the environment, such as raw materials; they are then transformed by the organization into outputs using human resources and technology; and then the results are returned to the society on the form of outputs. The open system supposes also that the organization receives feedbacks from the environment to keep providing better services or products (GCU, 2013).

The main problem that an open system may create is the flow of interaction with the organizations providing inputs and the environment. The organization is not autonomous. It depends on the provider of electricity, the sources of raw materials, and the quality of the provided inputs in order to activate the transformation system. When the raw materials are not supplied on time, the organization may be late in the production process, and then the outputs will be seriously impacted by the external inputs. Indeed, the lack of alignment will cause symptoms of ineffectiveness and inefficiency (GCU, 2013). Another key problem is the fact that open system is flexible. That is, it needs to be proactive to the environment so that the operating system can be adjusted to the environmental factors. If there will be shortage of electricity, the organization must plan an alternate source of energy or change the schedule for its operations. Another problem may be the feedback from the environment. According to the complexity and the constant change in the environment, it is very difficult for the organization to follow efficiently all the feedbacks. It requires resources and skills to assess the feedbacks in order to make the best use of them. Finally, we need to understand the open system in the framework applied to the classic Katz and Kahn approach where the organizational flexibility in the open system is defined by the market hypercompetitive market (Carlopio et al, 2012).

Despite the problems caused by the open system, all modern theories of organization, from contingency approach, institutional theorists, to the resources dependency theorists, they see the organization as a structure adapted to the environment, (Basteda, 2004). This consideration is also true when it comes to stakeholder approach which made of the stakeholders a vital determinant of inputs and outputs quality.

References

Bastedo, M. (2004). Open Systems Theory. University of Michigan, the SAGE Encyclopedia of Educational Leadership and Administration.

Carlopio, J. et al. (2012). A key to prosperity in hypercompetitive markets: organizational “hyperflexibility”.  Trziste / Market, vol. 24 (2), 187-200. Retrieved from https://ehis.ebscohost.com/eds/pdfviewer/pdfviewer?vid=12&sid=fe2878bf-e41c-4a26-a0fe-29179db6730d%40sessionmgr15&hid=7

Grand Canyon University. (2013). Open-systems Theory. Retrieved from https://lc.gcu.edu/learningPlatform/user/users.html?

Leontes Dorzilme