PART2 Flashcards
(21 cards)
An Austrian-born biologist known as one of the founders of general
systems theory (GST).
KARL LUDWIG VON BERTALANFFY
General systems theory is a general science of
‘wholeness’.
Barriers that define a system and distinguish it from other systems in an
environment.
Boundaries:
The tendency of a system to be resilient with respect to external disruption
and to maintain its key characteristics.
Homeostasis:
The tendency of a system to make the internal changes to protect itself
and keep fulfilling its purpose.
Adaptation:
Circular or cyclical interactions that systems engage in such that they
influence one another.
Reciprocal Transactions:
The process by which systems self-correct based on reactions from other
systems in the environment.
Feedback Loop:
Rate of energy transfer between a system and its environment over time.
Throughput:
The system closest to the client.
Microsystem:
Relationships among systems in an environment.
Mesosystem:
A relationship between two systems that has an indirect effect on a third
system.
Exosystem:
A larger system that influences clients, such as policies, administration of
entitlement programs, and culture.
Macrosystem:
A system composed of significant life events affecting adaptation.
Chronosystem:
In Bertalanffy’s book titled General System Theory:
Foundations, Development, Applications from 1968, he developed the “____________” (general systems theory) first via lectures beginning in 1937 and then via publications beginning in 1946
allgemeine Systemlehre
CHARACTERISTICS OF SYSTEMS
- “Systems” refer specifically to self-regulating systems.
- Systems are self-correcting through feedback.
- Systems have a structure that is defined by its parts and processes.
- Systems are generalizations of reality.
- The various parts of a system have functional as well as structural
relationships between each other. - Systems tend to function in the same way.
- Every living organism is essentially an open system.
Ludwig von Bertalanffy outlines systems inquiry into three major domains:
Philosophy, Science, and Technology.
He generalized the domains into four
integratable domains of systemic inquiry:
-Philosophy
-THEORY
- METHODOLOGY
-APPLICATION
the ontology, epistemology and axiology of system
Philosophy
a set of interrelated concepts and principles applying to all systems
THEORY
the set of models, strategies, methods and tools that instrumentalize systems theory and philosophy
METHODOLOGY
the applcation and interaction of the domain
APPLICATION
