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An Open System constantly intermingles with its environment by receiving resources from, and

producing a product or service for, the environment. This type of system involves 5 components (Input,

Throughput, Output, Environment and Feedback) (Wikimedia Foundation, Inc., N.D.). The Environment

is its own system composed of four main subsystems (Economic, Socio-culture, Politico-legal and

Technological). To analysis an organization there must be an understanding of the firm (which consist of

the input-throughput-output) and the main parts influencing, and being influenced by, the

environmental subsystems. Most organizations create smaller groups within them to deal with the

environment. The five major sectors of an organization usually are:

YA à

àà  which interacts primarily with the economic system performing the

purchasing and marketing function of the firm.

Y A à
àà  which concentrates primarily on the transformation processes within the firm.

This sector will also interact with the technological system of the environment.

Y A ‘ à  which interacts primarily with the socio-cultural system performing the

personnel and public relations function of the firm.

YA à   à  which concentrates primarily and the flow of information within the firm. This

sector also interacts with the politico-legal system.

YThe  

 of the firm interacts with all sectors of the environment, concentrating on

the most important influences, which the environment has, or may have, on the future of the firm.
 (Accel-Team, 2010)

 


The economic subsystem from the environment seems to be a major input influence for

productivity of a military unit. For this reason, the preferred state of the commercial sector of the

organization is a priority. The preferred state dictates the money a military unit depends on must be

enough to support the resources needed to produce a desired outcome. If the money is not there to

support the resources, the desired outcome will be watered-down. The way military units reach an

ideal state is by balancing budget and resources. If more soldiers exist within a military unit than the

budget can support, they transfer them out of the unit (FEDOROV, 2001).

The personnel sector of a military unit is also an important area within the organization. To be at

the preferred state the right amount of personnel need to be present and working cooperatively.

Cooperation encourages competition which increases productivity among military units. Cooperation

also allows a lot of work to be accomplished from a small group and area which is beneficial when

intensity is required. For this reason, anything that could possibly hinder unit cohesion is handled

immediately. For example, the military͛s stance seems to be Gays allowed serving openly in the military

will hinder unit cohesion. I have come to this conclusion after reading US code: Title 10, Subtitle a, Part

2, Chapter 37, Section 654, paragraph A-15 which states, ͞The presence in the armed forces of persons

who demonstrate a propensity or intent to engage in homosexual acts would create an unacceptable

risk to the high standards of morale, good order and discipline, and unit cohesion that are the essence of

military capability.͟ This policy concerning homosexuality in the armed forces shows the importance of

cooperation, since the possibility of hindering cohesion makes it acceptable to discriminate.







There are numerous factors within the environment that affect an orchestra͛s preferred state.

Some of the socio-culture factors are customer listening habits and competition from other types of

entertainment. Some ways orchestras deal with these problems are by adjusting productivity according

to feedback and input as well as exploiting other types of entertainment whenever possible. The

feedback allows the orchestra to know where they stand, pertaining to customer satisfaction, and find

out what customers want in the future. An example of exploiting other venues of entertainment would

be, marketing and performing for profit on the television, the radio and the Internet. (Organizational

Change)




The military unit͛s and the Orchestra͛s ͞input-throughput-output͟ system is similar. Both

constantly need (inputs) money to maintain its personnel and equipment. The collaborating personnel

use the equipment (throughput) to produce (outputs) a service.

A difference between the Orchestra and the Military Unit is the services which they provide.

Military Units provide constant assurance of security of its nation and Orchestras provide entertainment

or education for its audience. Another major difference is how competition affects them. For the

military unit competition does not influence the economic subsystem of the environment (the budget)

and is good for the organization since it leads to high productivity due to the cooperation created. On

the other hand, for the orchestra competition influences the economic subsystem of the environment

(ticket sales and contributions) and is bad for business since it could reduce profits.


TUI University is similar to an orchestra open system. TUI University, like an orchestra, does not

gain from competition. TUI University must constantly pay attention to feedback to provide its students

with what they need.

Portraying an organization as a living system allows a person to understand the needs of an

organization and the environment as well as how they͛re related. I found the concept of thinking about

an organization as a machine, easier to grasp than thinking about an organization as an organism. The

machine and organism concept goals of efficiency are the same. However, they both seem to have

different concentrations for reaching this goal. The organization as a machine concept concentrates on

conformity through managerial controls. The organization as an organism concept concentrates on the

relationship between the environment and organization. Now that I am armed with both concepts, I will

use the concept that fits the task in front of me.


Î 

Accel-Team. (2010, January 04). c


  Retrieved Feburary 01, 2010, from

Use of the open systems approach in organizational development: http://www.accel-

team.com/business_process/systems_analysis_06.html

FEDOROV, G. (2001, July 01). The Military Unit as Part of the Armed Forces' Economic

System.
 .

c

(n.d.). Retrieved from Symphony Orchestra Institute:

http://www.soi.org/reading/change/concepts.shtml

Wikimedia Foundation, Inc. (N.D.). c





 Retrieved January 31, 2010,

from Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Open_system_%28systems_theory%29