Systems Theory

Dr. Len Elovitz

Chapter 4 in Owens & Valesky

General Systems Theory

Biologically speaking

What is an organism?An integrated system of interdependent structures and functions

Organization

An organization is an integrated system of interdependent structures and functions

General Systems Theory

An organization is constituted of groups and a group consists of persons who must work in harmony. Each person must know what the others are doing. Each one must be capable of receiving messages and must be sufficiently disciplined to obey. . . .

F.K. Berrian

Two central concepts: subsystems and multiple causation.

Peter Senge and The Fifth Discipline

Peter Senge wrote a popular book in 1990 titled, The Fifth Discipline: The Art and Practice of the Learning Organization.

Proposed 5 disciplines that must be studied and put into place to promote the organization’s ability to learn

The five disciplines are: personal mastery, mental models, team learning, shared vision, and systems thinking.

The fifth discipline, Systems Thinking, is essential for integrating the other four disciplines in making the organization effective.

School

A school is an integrated system of interdependent structures and functions.

Organization

An organization (school) is constituted of groups and a group consists of persons who must work in harmony.

Types of Systems

Open - Interact with their environment Maintain a steady state Are self-regulating

Closed - do not Interact with their environment Balanced aquarium

Are schools open or closed systems?

Inputs from society

Educational process

Outputs to society

Are schools open or closed systems?

Knowledge, Values, Goals, Money

Curriculum & Instruction

Graduates

Linear ModelIs this how things really happen?Does the Educational process

ever effect the inputs?Do the outputs ever effect the

inputs?

Social System Model for Schools

W. K. Hoy © 2003, 2008, 2011

Transformation Transformation ProcessProcessStructural System

(Bureaucratic Expectations(Bureaucratic Expectations))

CulturalCulturalSystemSystem((Shared

Orientations)

PoliticalPoliticalSystemSystem(Power(Power

Relations)Relations)

Individual System

((Cognition and Motivation)

Learning

Learning Teaching

Teaching

OutputsOutputsInputsInputsEnvironmental constraintsHuman and capital resourcesMission and board policyMaterials

and methods

Achievement

Job

satisfaction

Absenteeism

Dropout rate

Overall

qualityDiscrepancy between Actual and Expected Performance

EnvironmentEnvironment

For schools, we define closed systems as those organizations that tend to limit the influence of the community and tend to proceed as though unrelated to the larger real world in which they exist.

Daniel GriffithsThe organization(System)

exists in an environment (Suprasystem) having within it an administrative apparatus ( subsystem)

Administration: Subsystem

Organization: System

Environment: Suprasystem

School

SchoolDistrict

Community

Department

School

Community

Where does the individual fit in?

The individual is functioning in the organization not only as an individual but also as one who occupies a certain role within the social system in the organization.

Where does the individual fit in?

The individual is functioning in the organization not only as an individual but also as a teacher within the department in the School.

TheIndividu

alor Self

TheRole

The Work Group

TheOrganization

TheCulture

TheIndividu

alor Self

TheTeacher

TheDepartment

TheSchool

TheCommunity

The individual shapes his/her role and is also shaped by it.

Role Theory

The dynamic interaction of people with varying psychological makeups in the organizational setting is the domain of role theory.

Useful Terms

Role – Expectations of behavior held by the individual and others

Role description – Actual behavior of the role incumbent

Role Prescription - Behavioral norm of what is expected

Role Expectation – the expectations that one individual has for the behavior of others

Role Perception – the perception that an individual holds for another’s perception about his/her role expectation

Manifest Role – The obvious and prime role of an individual

Latent Role – A role that is not expressed at a given time

Can lead to role conflict

Two people are unable to establish a satisfactory or reciprocal relationship.

Role expectations may conflict with the personality needs of the role incumbent.

Role Ambiguity – role prescription contains contradictory elements or is vague

Role Set - can be described in graphic terms which includes all players important to the role perception and role expectations of any particular role.

Superordinate1

Pivotal role player

Superordinate2

Colleague2

Subordinate3

Superordinate1

Colleague1

Pivotal role player

Superordinate2

Subordinate1

Subordinate2

Getzels and Guba

We conceive of the social system as involving two major classes of phenomena, which are conceptually independent and phenomenally interactive.

Getzels and Guba

There are, first, institutions with certain roles and expectations that will fulfill the goals of the system.

Getzels and Guba

Second, inhabiting the system are the individuals with certain personalities and need-dispositions, whose interactions comprise what we generally call “social behavior.”

SocialSystem

Institution Role Expectation

ObservedBehavior

Individual PersonalityNeed-Disposition

ORGANIZATIONAL (Nomothetic) DIMENSION

PERSONAL (Idiographic)DIMENSION

B = f(R x P)

Where B = observed behavior

R = institutional role, and

P = personality of the role incumbent

Role

Personality

b

a

Role

Personality

b

a

ArtistArmy Private

Getzels & Thelen

Please Read Social Behavior and the Administrative Process

By Getzels and Guba

Equilibrium - Needs of the organization and those of the Individual Schmidt ($1.15 for 12.5 tons - $1.85 for 47.5

tons) Collective bargaining

Homeostasis - Schools adapt and deal effectively with changes in the environment

Feedback - Circular pattern of information

Role Related to Social Systems Theory (continued)

Changes in the environment stimulate a reaction that is either static or dynamic: In Static reactions, the organization

responds to maintain status quo. Dynamic equilibrium is characterized by

subsystem changes to steady the system (i.e., homeostasis).

Role Related to Social Systems Theory (continued)

Systems that do not have sensitive antennae picking up accurate feedback information or that do not provide information to decision makers, find it difficult to react appropriately to environmental changes.

Such systems tend to be in a static, rather than in a dynamic, equilibrium with their environments. They tend to lack the self-correcting, homeostatic processes essential to maintaining themselves in environments characterized by change.

These organizations will decline over time.

Why did so many high schools adopt block scheduling?

Reaction to feedback 1. Too many topics to concentrate on at one

time 2. Some lessons require more than 45 min

class 3. Students are carrying too many books 4. Too much homework

What do you need to do to effectively implement block scheduling?

Structure Schedule Facilities Contract

Task Teach for 90 min Staff Development

Technology Curriculum Materials

People Buy in Abilities Training needs

Sociotechnical Systems Theory

A change in one subsystem will affect the other subsystems.

Owens and Steinhoff

Contingency Theory

Different beliefs in organizational theory, such as classical, human relations, or human resources, will lead to competing advocacy positions.

None of the three approaches is superior in all situations. - Do you agree?

Contingency Theory (continued)

Organizational structure and management methods can be identified as being most effective under specific situational contingencies.

Three basic propositions underlie the contingency approach to organizational behavior in schools: There is no one best universal way to organize and administer

school districts or schools. Not all ways of organizing and administering are equally

effective in a given situation: effectiveness is contingent upon appropriateness of the design or style to the situation.

The selection of organizational design and administrative style should be based on careful analysis of significant contingencies in the situation.

Contingency Theory (continued)

Organizations that deal successfully with uncertain environments tend to differentiate internally more than less successful organizations do; yet they are able to maintain high levels of integration between the various subunits.

New technological developments, typically developed externally, of every description tend to alter the contingencies that affect the internal arrangements of the school.

The school system or school, as a sociotechnical system, is in constant dynamic interaction with the larger external environment in which it exists.

THE QUESTION

What style will likely yield the most productive behavior (in terms of achieving organizational goals) from subordinates in this situation?

Different administrative styles will evoke predictably different responses from individuals

The Effective Leader

Is able to match leadership style to the contingencies of the situation in order to achieve the behavior on the part of subordinates that will contribute most to achieving the goals of the school district or the school.

Research indicates that the most effective organizations are those in which human resources leadership is prime.