OVERVIEW Organizational Analysis: Defining the Organization Utilizing the System

OVERVIEW
Organizational Analysis: Defining the Organization Utilizing the Systems Theories Lens
This portion of the case study assignment will require you to apply the Systems Theories lens to
your organization. This enables you to make sense of the organization in a general way before
turning to the specific problem within the organization which you identified in the Problem
Proposal Assignment.
INSTRUCTIONS
Lens Two: Reviewing the Systems Theories [ORGANISM]
Use the following questions to describe, in a summative-narrative fashion, what the systems of
your organization look like. Your summary is to be 3–5 pages, include 3–5 references (this can
include your textbook), have a title and reference page, and be formatted according to current
APA style (first person should not be used). Headings should be used for each section of the
paper.
1. What is the cycle of production for this organization? i.e., what are we about as an
organization?
a. What do we bring in (input), how do we use it and form our product (throughput)?
b. What do we send out into the larger world (output)?
2. Are we open to negative feedback from the sub and super systems?
a. What are we doing to reverse the entropy of the system?
b. Are we exploring other paths to the ends (equifinality)?
3. What is our proper place in the broader society and economy?
Issue: genotypic function. (Productive, Maintenance, Adaptive, Managerial/Political)
4. Are we balancing our need for profit with a long-term view of survival?
The issue is the Maximization Principle.
5. How are we scanning the environment?
What do we know about the environmental sectors (Economic, political, social, etc.)?
APA format. Reference within 5 years