Systems Theory

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CASIMIR, From the attached post, the professor came back with these questions: I am curious to know what it means to become relativist (For you in this context)? What is relative and what would be the fixed reference point that things are relative to? I would also like to know how you believe Parsons overcomes some of the challenges of a narrow utilitarian explanation of action?

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Running head: SYSTEMS THINKING 1 Systems Thinking Name Course Professor Date SYSTEMS THINKING 2 Systems Thinking What does "action is a system" mean? This means that action is a process in an actor-situation system, which is essential motivationally to an individual actor. Based on this definition, it is safe to say that action processes are influenced by and associated with the attainment of satisfaction or deprivations avoidance of correlative actor, whatever they may be in respect of relative individual structure that may be in existence. Every social action advance from the mechanism, which is the ultimate source. This does not imply that actions are solely linked to the organism (Parsons, 1952). They are, as a matter of fact, linked to actors’ relationship with other individuals’ social culture and situations. Actions are controlled by three systems, which are also called aspects of social action systems. The first aspect is the personality system. This aspect is responsible for satisfaction needs that drives a man to make efforts as well as perform particular actions. However, certain conditions must be met while making these efforts (Von Bertalanffy & von Taschdjian, 1976). The situations have a certain meaning and are differentiated by various symptoms and symbols. Different situational elements have various meaning for the ego as symbols and signs which become important to the structure of man's expectation system. The second aspect is the cultural system. Once the social action process develops, the signs and symbols acquire meaning. Besides, the social action also emerges as a result of a structured system and eventually when various actors under a certain system of culture perform several social interactions, a unique situation develops. The third aspect is the social system. This aspect is confronted with four functional challenges. These challenges are integration, pattern maintenance, goal attainment as SYSTEMS THINKING 3 well as the adaptation (Von Bertalanffy & von Taschdjian, 1976). Social systems tend to distinguish these challenges in order to increase the system’s functional capabilities. Is Parsons central thesis correct? Parson’s theoretical model appears to offer a reasonable and sophisticated description of social action based on subjective rationality and consciousness. While concentrated on instrumental types of action, it overcomes some of the challenges of a narrow utilitarian social action explanation. Does it seem like systems thinking can be fruitfully extended beyond biological and cybernetic systems to human action and the social sphere? Why or why not Indeed, system thinking can be applied in the social sphere and human activities. It can change everything, including how people look at economics, politics, others and society at large, in exciting new ways. People need to become relativists, investing time to comprehend the system before working with it. System thinking will help people understand how change happens in these systems and adapt their efforts accordingly. SYSTEMS THINKING 4 References Parsons, T. (1952). The action frame of reference and the general theory of action systems: Culture, personality and the place of social systems. Parsons T. The social system. Von Bertalanffy, L., & von Taschdjian, E. (1976). Perspectives on general system theory.
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