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Management cybernetics is the field ofcybernetics concerned
with managementand organizations. The notion of cybernetics and
management was first
introduced byStafford Beerin the late 1950s.[1]
Contents
[hide]
1 Cybernetics and complexity
2 Cybernetic approach to business
3 Cybernetics of the First and Second Order
4 Management cybernetics in practice
5 See also
6 References
7 Further reading
8 External links
[edit]Cybernetics and complexity
Complexity is inherent in dynamic systems because their
processes are often non-linear and
therefore hard to observe and control. However, the only way to
overcome complexity is to realise
its existence in the first place. Knowledge about how
regulation, control and communication
function in every form of system needs to be applied this
knowledge is known as cybernetics.
Norbert Wiener defines cybernetics as the study of regulation,
control and communications in life
forms and the machine. In a business context, such an approach
can help managers understandcomplex situations and therefore deal
with them better.
[edit]Cybernetic approach to business
The following are a set of features specific to management
cybernetics and the way in which it can
be applied to a business context.
Management cybernetics involves the study of what things do and
how they interact with
one another, not just what they are.
It is a field of knowledge which can help us to gain further
knowledge in situations where
we cannot obtain any concrete knowledge
It helps us achieve the right approach to complexity
It is the realisation of ones own responsibility, with which one
can make others aware of
their own responsibilities
It is an approach that does not completely eradicate complexity,
but shows the ways in
which it can be best handled
It provides the chance to maintain long-term acceptance
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cyberneticshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cyberneticshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Managementhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Managementhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Organizationshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stafford_Beerhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stafford_Beerhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stafford_Beerhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Management_cybernetics#cite_note-0http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Management_cyberneticshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Management_cyberneticshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Management_cyberneticshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Management_cybernetics#Cybernetics_and_complexityhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Management_cybernetics#Cybernetic_approach_to_businesshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Management_cybernetics#Cybernetics_of_the_First_and_Second_Orderhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Management_cybernetics#Management_cybernetics_in_practicehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Management_cybernetics#See_alsohttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Management_cybernetics#Referenceshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Management_cybernetics#Further_readinghttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Management_cybernetics#External_linkshttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Management_cybernetics&action=edit§ion=1http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Management_cybernetics&action=edit§ion=2http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cyberneticshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Managementhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Organizationshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stafford_Beerhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Management_cybernetics#cite_note-0http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Management_cyberneticshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Management_cybernetics#Cybernetics_and_complexityhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Management_cybernetics#Cybernetic_approach_to_businesshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Management_cybernetics#Cybernetics_of_the_First_and_Second_Orderhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Management_cybernetics#Management_cybernetics_in_practicehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Management_cybernetics#See_alsohttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Management_cybernetics#Referenceshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Management_cybernetics#Further_readinghttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Management_cybernetics#External_linkshttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Management_cybernetics&action=edit§ion=1http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Management_cybernetics&action=edit§ion=2
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It is an approach that everyone understands when they apply it
to their own situation
It is an approach that everyone has already practised, whether
they realise it or not
[edit]Cybernetics of the First and Second Order
Heinz von Foerster, one of the more prominent academics in the
field of cybernetics, cited twoforms of cybernetics. In the context
of business, these forms are fundamentally different with
regard
to the way in which a system is observed.
1. First-order cybernetics: Views the system as being completely
independent to the
observer. The observed system
2. Second-order cybernetics: Refers to systems that observe
themselves. The
observing system
It is important to note that neither approach is better than the
other, they are merely different.
[edit]Management cybernetics in practiceMany managers fail to
realise that they are actually using methods derived from
cybernetics in
everyday business activity. The idea of control loops and
feedback are well known but many fail to
realise that they originate from a cybernetic standpoint.
Stafford Beeris known as the father of management cybernetics,
focusing on the application of the
natural laws of cybernetics in organisations, enterprises and
institutes. One of the most unique
features of his work is that he did not try to simplify reality
in any way.William Ross Ashbys Law of
RequisiteVariety essentially reinforces the fact that complex
situations can only be dealt with at
least the same amount of complexity. The influences of this
theory can be clearly seen in Beers
work. By viewing reality from a level that is high enough to
allow all the factors that operate in
complex systems to be separated out and presented in a form in
which they are clearly
recognizable and comprehensible to anyone who is curious (Cwarel
Isaf Institute, 2002), his
models automatically encompass the right way to approach
complexity.
Another distinguishing feature of Stafford Beers work is that he
endeavours to make all processes
that occur within systems closed. This is achieved by viewing
processes as being circular,
i.e. recursive. Viewed from this perspective, processes are
ongoing, individual entities because
when they end, they are taken back to the beginning. For
managers this helps processes to
become more visible and clearly defined thus enabling them to be
dealt with more efficiently.
Although Beers models are relatively few in number, they provide
managers with interesting
insights into the ways in which they can tackle complexity. As a
result, their organisations (and they
themselves) may become more able to react effectively and
appropriately when faced with
complexity. This in turn makes for a more stable, sustainable
and flexible business. The following
list compiles Stafford Beers most influential models:
Team Syntegrity
The Viable System Model
http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Management_cybernetics&action=edit§ion=3http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=First-order_cybernetics&action=edit&redlink=1http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=First-order_cybernetics&action=edit&redlink=1http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Second-order_cyberneticshttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Management_cybernetics&action=edit§ion=4http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stafford_Beerhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Ross_Ashbyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Ross_Ashbyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Variety_(cybernetics)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Variety_(cybernetics)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Recursionhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Syntegrityhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Viable_System_Modelhttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Management_cybernetics&action=edit§ion=3http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=First-order_cybernetics&action=edit&redlink=1http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Second-order_cyberneticshttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Management_cybernetics&action=edit§ion=4http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stafford_Beerhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Ross_Ashbyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Variety_(cybernetics)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Recursionhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Syntegrityhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Viable_System_Model
