Changes

== '''General systems theory''' ==

=='''General systems theory'''==

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== 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.  

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).  

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

== 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.  

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.  

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  

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

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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.