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Management Practices and Organisational Behaviour
Notes elements, organisations environment, interfact, etc. It gives a systematic view when we consider
the second approach, i.e., we examine the relationship between each element of the organisation
and their interdependence. If we examine employer-employee, customer and organisation,
debtors-organisation relationships, we follow systematic view.
The systems approach focused attention on the following aspects:
1. It integrates all elements for the proper and smooth functioning of the organisation.
2. The organisation overall goals can be achieved successfully because it considers all the
aspects of the problems deeply and maintains a harmonious relationship between various
elements so that they work in unison to achieve goals.
3. The approach helps in acquisition and maintenance of various resources, i.e., man, material,
money, and machinery, etc. for pertaining the smooth functioning of the organisation.
4. It allows adaptation to internal requirements and environmental changes in order to
survive and grow.
Definition and Characteristics of System
Definition of System
Kast and Rosenzweig define the system as an organised unitary whole composed of two or
more interdependent parts, components or sub-systems and defined by identifiable boundaries
form its environmental supra-system. More simply, a system may be referred as units composed
of several interdependent parts. System may be denoted as a grouping of parts and not simply
an agglomeration of individual parts. Though each part performs its own functions yet they
work towards a common goal. The behaviour of the entity is a joint function of the behaviours
of the individual parts and their interactions.
Example: A human body may be regarded as a system, consisting of several sub-systems,
such as circulatory, reproductive digestive, nervous systems, etc.
Even though each sub-system performs different and distinguished function, they depend on
each other. Similarly, an organisation is composed of a number of sub-systems of sub-systems
such as internal organisation, technological, psychological, structural, managerial and
environment etc. which are constantly changing and evolving. A change in one may affect the
other.
Characteristics of System
From the analysis of foregoing definition and discussion following characteristics of a system
emerge:
1. Interdependence of parts: A system has several parts. Each part is dynamic and affects all
other parts. They are interrelated and interdependent. Interdependence of different parts
is must in an organisation as a system because of division of labour, specialisation, sharing
of limited resources, scheduling of activities, etc. The work of the organisation is divided
into various departments, sub-departments and so on, assigning each unit an independent
specialised task, which on integration culminates into the accomplishment of overall
organisational goals. These parts are interconnected in such a way that a change in one
part may affect the other part and in this way, the whole organisation.
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