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Mechanisms, organisms and social systems

Author

Listed:
  • Jamshid Gharajedaghi
  • Russell L. Ackoff

Abstract

To think about anything requires an image or concept of it, a model. To think about a thing as complex as a social system most people use a model of something similar, simpler and more familiar. Traditionally, two types of models have been used in efforts to acquire information, knowledge and understanding of social systems: mechanistic and organismic. But, in a world of accelerating change, increasing uncertainty and growing complexity, it is becoming apparent that these are inadequate as guides to decision and action. The growing number of social crises and dilemmas that we face should be clear evidence that something is fundamentally wrong with the way we think about social systems. In this paper we describe and try to explain the deficiencies of the two traditional ways of thinking about social systems. We then develop a third type of model, one we believe does not suffer from these inadequacies, a social system model which seeks to penetrate beyond the nature of machine and organisms to understand social systems in their own right.

Suggested Citation

  • Jamshid Gharajedaghi & Russell L. Ackoff, 1984. "Mechanisms, organisms and social systems," Strategic Management Journal, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 5(3), pages 289-300, July.
  • Handle: RePEc:bla:stratm:v:5:y:1984:i:3:p:289-300
    DOI: 10.1002/smj.4250050308
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    Cited by:

    1. Margy Nathalia Rojas Palacios & Diego León Peña Orozco & Jesús Gonzalez-Feliu, 2022. "Backup Agreement as a Coordination Mechanism in a Decentralized Fruit Chain in a Developing Country," Games, MDPI, vol. 13(3), pages 1-18, April.
    2. Tuan M. Ha & Ockie J. H. Bosch & Nam C. Nguyen, 2016. "Establishing an Evolutionary Learning Laboratory for Improving the Quality of Life of Vietnamese Women in Small-scale Agriculture: Part II – Systemic Interventions," Systems Research and Behavioral Science, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 33(3), pages 341-359, May.
    3. Kull, Thomas & Closs, David, 2008. "The risk of second-tier supplier failures in serial supply chains: Implications for order policies and distributor autonomy," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 186(3), pages 1158-1174, May.
    4. Dariusz Gołȩbiewski & Tomasz Barszcz & Wioletta Skrodzka & Igor Wojnicki & Andrzej Bielecki, 2022. "A New Approach to Risk Management in the Power Industry Based on Systems Theory," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(23), pages 1-19, November.
    5. Chiang, Wen-Chyuan & Russell, Robert & Xu, Xiaojing & Zepeda, David, 2009. "A simulation/metaheuristic approach to newspaper production and distribution supply chain problems," International Journal of Production Economics, Elsevier, vol. 121(2), pages 752-767, October.
    6. Olivier Boiral, 2003. "ISO 9000: Outside the Iron Cage," Organization Science, INFORMS, vol. 14(6), pages 720-737, December.
    7. Tuan M. Ha & Ockie J. H. Bosch & Nam C. Nguyen, 2016. "Practical Contributions of the Systems-Based Evolutionary Learning Laboratory to Knowledge and Stakeholder Management," Systemic Practice and Action Research, Springer, vol. 29(3), pages 261-275, June.
    8. Adriana Díaz & Camilo Olaya, 2017. "An Engineering View for Social Systems: Agency as an Operational Principle for Designing Higher Education Access Policies," Systemic Practice and Action Research, Springer, vol. 30(6), pages 627-649, December.

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