Line 1: |
Line 1: |
− | [[Image:AIS.jpg|thumb|right|134px|This site is associated with [http://www.aisworld.org/ AISWorld]]]
| + | {{Sponsor Thumbs}} |
− | [[Image:PrinLogo.jpg|thumb|right|134px|[http://http://www.prin.edu// Site sponsor]]]
| |
− | [[Image:York.jpg|thumb|right|134px|[http://www.yorku.ca/ Site sponsor]]]
| |
| | | |
− | == '''General systems theory''' == | + | |
| + | =='''General systems theory'''== |
| ---- | | ---- |
− | == Acronym == | + | ==Acronym== |
| GST | | GST |
− | == Alternate name(s)== | + | ==Alternate name(s)== |
| Systems theory, Open systems theory, Systemic theory | | Systems theory, Open systems theory, Systemic theory |
− | == Main dependent construct(s)/factor(s)== | + | ==Main dependent construct(s)/factor(s)== |
| Output | | Output |
− | == Main independent construct(s)/factor(s) == | + | ==Main independent construct(s)/factor(s)== |
| Input, throughput, feedback, control, environment, goals | | Input, throughput, feedback, control, environment, goals |
− | == Concise description of theory == | + | ==Concise description of theory== |
| Systems theory was proposed in the 1936 by the biologist Ludwig von Bertalanffy, and further developed by Ross Ashby. von Bertalanffy was both reacting against reductionism and attempting to revive the unity of science. He emphasized that real systems are open to, and interact with, their environments, and that they can acquire qualitatively new properties through emergence, resulting in continual evolution. | | Systems theory was proposed in the 1936 by the biologist Ludwig von Bertalanffy, and further developed by Ross Ashby. von Bertalanffy was both reacting against reductionism and attempting to revive the unity of science. He emphasized that real systems are open to, and interact with, their environments, and that they can acquire qualitatively new properties through emergence, resulting in continual evolution. |
| + | |
| + | General systems theory is the skeleton of science which aims to provide framework or structure of systems on which flesh and blood of any stream could be hanged. This will enable to create orderly and coherent group of knowledge. It is used to describe a level of theoretical model building which lies in between highly generalized constructions of pure mathematics and specific theories of different specialized disciplines. |
| + | |
| + | It is the contention of the general system theorists that optimum degree of generality in theory is not always reached by the particular Sciences. The objectives of the general systems theory can be set out to provide optimum degree of generality somewhere in between the specific which has no meaning and the general that has no content. |
| | | |
| Rather than reducing an entity (e.g. the human body) to the properties of its parts or elements (e.g. organs or cells), systems theory focuses on the arrangement of and relations between the parts which connect them into a whole (cf. holism). This particular organization determines a system, which is independent of the concrete substance of the elements (e.g. particles, cells, transistors, people, etc). | | Rather than reducing an entity (e.g. the human body) to the properties of its parts or elements (e.g. organs or cells), systems theory focuses on the arrangement of and relations between the parts which connect them into a whole (cf. holism). This particular organization determines a system, which is independent of the concrete substance of the elements (e.g. particles, cells, transistors, people, etc). |
Line 23: |
Line 26: |
| | | |
| Source: http://pespmc1.vub.ac.be/SYSTHEOR.html | | Source: http://pespmc1.vub.ac.be/SYSTHEOR.html |
− | == Diagram/schematic of theory == | + | ==Diagram/schematic of theory== |
− | N/A
| + | [[File:Image.png|none|thumb|624x624px]] |
− | == Originating author(s) == | + | <br /> |
| + | ==Originating author(s)== |
| Ludwig von Bertalanffy | | Ludwig von Bertalanffy |
− | == Seminal articles == | + | ==Seminal articles== |
| Bertalanffy, L. von, (1934).Untersuchungen über die Gesetzlichkeit des Wachstums. I. Allgemeine Grundlagen der Theorie; mathematische und physiologische Gesetzlichkeiten des Wachstums bei Wassertieren. Arch. Entwicklungsmech., 131:613-652. | | Bertalanffy, L. von, (1934).Untersuchungen über die Gesetzlichkeit des Wachstums. I. Allgemeine Grundlagen der Theorie; mathematische und physiologische Gesetzlichkeiten des Wachstums bei Wassertieren. Arch. Entwicklungsmech., 131:613-652. |
| | | |
Line 43: |
Line 47: |
| | | |
| Gerald M. Weinberg (1975) An Introduction to General Systems Thinking (1975 ed., Wiley-Interscience) (2001 ed. Dorset House). | | Gerald M. Weinberg (1975) An Introduction to General Systems Thinking (1975 ed., Wiley-Interscience) (2001 ed. Dorset House). |
− | == Originating area == | + | ==Originating area== |
| Philosophy, Mathematics, Cybernetics | | Philosophy, Mathematics, Cybernetics |
− | == Level of analysis == | + | ==Level of analysis== |
| System | | System |
− | == IS articles that use the theory == | + | ==IS articles that use the theory== |
| Alter, S. (2001). Are the fundamental concepts of information systems mostly about work systems? Communication of AIS, 5(11) 1-67. | | Alter, S. (2001). Are the fundamental concepts of information systems mostly about work systems? Communication of AIS, 5(11) 1-67. |
| | | |
Line 93: |
Line 97: |
| Silver, Mark S., Markus, M. Lynne, and Beath, Cynthia M., "The Information Technology Interaction Model: A Foundation for the MBA Core Course," Management Information Systems Quarterly, volume 19, no. 3, September 1995, pp. 361-390. | | Silver, Mark S., Markus, M. Lynne, and Beath, Cynthia M., "The Information Technology Interaction Model: A Foundation for the MBA Core Course," Management Information Systems Quarterly, volume 19, no. 3, September 1995, pp. 361-390. |
| | | |
− | Wand, Y., Storey, V. C. and Weber, R. (1999) An ontological analysis of the relationship construct in conceptual modeling, ACM Transactions on Database Systems, 24, 4, pp. 494-528. | + | Wand, Y., Storey, V. C. and Weber, R. (1999) An ontological analysis of the relationship construct in conceptual modeling, ACM Transactions on Database Systems, 24, 4, pp. 494-528. |
− | == Links from this theory to other theories == | + | |
| + | ==Links from this theory to other theories== |
| [[Social network theory]], [[Chaos theory]], [[Complexity theory]], [[Contingency theory]], [[Socio-technical theory]], [[Soft systems theory]], [[Work systems theory]], Change theory | | [[Social network theory]], [[Chaos theory]], [[Complexity theory]], [[Contingency theory]], [[Socio-technical theory]], [[Soft systems theory]], [[Work systems theory]], Change theory |
| | | |
− | == External links == | + | ==External links== |
| http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Systems_theory, Wikipedia entry on GST | | http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Systems_theory, Wikipedia entry on GST |
| | | |
Line 108: |
Line 113: |
| In addition, AMCIS regularly includes a minitrack on The Philosophical Foundations of IS research. This minitrack calls for papers with a focus on GST. | | In addition, AMCIS regularly includes a minitrack on The Philosophical Foundations of IS research. This minitrack calls for papers with a focus on GST. |
| | | |
− | == Original Contributor(s) == | + | ==Original Contributor(s)== |
| Mike Wade | | Mike Wade |
| <br> | | <br> |
| + | |
| + | Deepak Srivastav, Doctoral Student at Indian Institute of Management, Kozhikode, India |
| + | |
| <br> | | <br> |
| Please feel free to make modifications to this site. In order to do so, you must register. | | Please feel free to make modifications to this site. In order to do so, you must register. |