Cherry Vanderbeke <CKV@wang.co.nz>
>I wonder if we are using the same word (_system_) in this thread for
>different concepts...
>SYSTEM:
>(1) a business process or procedure in an organisation, designed by people
>for other people; once designed, very rarely reviewed let alone updated or
>improved
This is a judgemental definition. Oftentimes these "systems" grew like
topsy and were never designed in the first place. This idea that is being
promoted by Senge of taking a systems view is likely doing that for the
first time.
>(2) "A perceived whole whose elements hang together because they
>continually affect each other over time... examples of systems include
>biological organisms, including human bodies, the atmosphere, diseases,
>ecological niches, chemical reactions, political entities, communities,
>industries, families, teams - and all organisations." (from the Fifth
>Discipline Fieldbook)
The trick in the latter definition is to select the right "domain of
influence" - big enough to make a difference yet small enough to be
manageable. This is where the role of consultants and luck begin to take
place in delivering concrete results. I can produce the world's best
accounts payable "system" but it will not make my organization more
competitive unless suppliers and their timely and accurate payment are
critical to my competitive advantage. So again, it comes down to good
judgement in the selection of the "domain" and skilled execution....Keith
--Keith Cowan <72212.51@CompuServe.COM>
Learning-org -- An Internet Dialog on Learning Organizations For info: <rkarash@karash.com> -or- <http://world.std.com/~lo/>