The Systems PerspectiveCasey Winner

Systems Perspective

Emphasizes the important difference between a disconnected set of parts versus a collection of parts that work together to create a functional whole

Though your body is hard to compare to a toilet, both

are systems!

EXAMPLE:

•A BMW is considered an ultimate driving machine?

▫Why?Braking?Handling?*It’s made up of all the unique qualities, not just one!*

Smart people (like ourselves) used this theory

•Einstein considered Systems Theory Important

•His theory of relativity transformed how we saw the world▫“ Space and time not only affect but also

are affected by EVERYTHING that happens in the universe”

How this relates to the NWSF?

•The forum was like a bike▫Not just made up of wheels, but of the

whole bike!▫Without all components, it would not be a

bike and it would not function▫They did not see the forum as a whole, but

more separate functions

What was the forum’s downfall?

The people’s vision was separate than other’s, therefore not creating a

balanced, functioning Forum …(Like the Bike)

Hierarchy of General Systems Theory

Open Systems

Encourages individual members to be mindful of the importance of the overall

health of their industry “ecosystem”

Coopetition

A blend of cooperation and competition that tries to reap the best of both worlds

Interdependence

The wholeness of a system and its environment and to the interrelationships

of individuals within the system

THINK OF AN ECOSYSTEM

Goals

Defined in various ways in theories of organization and communication

Feedback

A system of loops that connect communication and action

Equifinality

•Same goal may be reached in multiple ways▫There is no one best way to organize▫All ways of organizing are not qually

effective

Now that you have got through the presentation, here is some links !•SYSTEMS THINKING

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7NCpdLKhY04&feature=related

•This guy is corny but he does a song about systems theory…He relates systems to a zoo http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0ZVIlDczuEs

•If you find any other videos, I will add them to the list!

…In Conclusion!

A great metaphor within the systems perspective is a machine including a bike

or car…An Ecosystem is also a good example of a

system!