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Modul Praktikum System Thinking - 27092017

1. The document provides guidance on teaching students systemic thinking through a practical session. 2. It involves dividing students into groups to identify systems of various sizes on campus and in the hospital, distinguishing their essential and accessory components, and applying systemic thinking concepts to health. 3. Key points covered include defining a system, examples of different types of systems, core assumptions of systems theory, and conceptual models of simple and elaborated systems.

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100 views4 pages

Modul Praktikum System Thinking - 27092017

1. The document provides guidance on teaching students systemic thinking through a practical session. 2. It involves dividing students into groups to identify systems of various sizes on campus and in the hospital, distinguishing their essential and accessory components, and applying systemic thinking concepts to health. 3. Key points covered include defining a system, examples of different types of systems, core assumptions of systems theory, and conceptual models of simple and elaborated systems.

Uploaded by

has nah
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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PRACTICAL GUIDE

DEPARTMENT OF DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH POLICY AND MANAGEMENT;


CENTER FOR HEALTH SERVICE MANAGAMENT

SYSTEMIC THINKING

Objective
After getting involved in this practical session, the students are expected to be able to:
1. identify various systemic factors in life on measurable systems purposes,
2. distinguish the essential components of a system of things that are essentials and
‘accessories’,
3. Apply the concept of systemic thinking in health.

Procedure
1. Students are divided into several groups based on tutorial groups and each will be assisted
by an instructor,
2. Introduction (15 minutes),
3. Students identify various things on campus and the educational hospital which have systemic
characters (3 things), from small size, medium, to very large size. In this identification, it is
important to identify in detail the purpose of the system (30 minutes).
4. Students perform the separation of essential components and accessories. The separation is
done by seeing the function of the components in generating goals (60 minutes).
5. Students distinguish of essential components of accessories. The separation is done by see-
ing the function of the components in generating goals (60 minutes).
6. Students present group presentation in the form of poster presentations (30 minutes). Poster
Presentations made by the two groups alternately.
7. After presenting the poster, the group makes a practicum report using the references as dis-
cussion materials.

Reading Material
Definitions: Systems, Systems Theory, Systems Thinking, Tools

What’s a System?
Adapted from the Field Guide to Consulting and Organizational Development: Collaborative and
Systems Approach to Performance Change and Learning.

One of the biggest breakthroughs in how we understand and guide change in organizations is
systems theory and systems thinking. To understand how they are used in organizations, we first
must understand a system. Many of us have an intuitive understanding of the term. However, we
need to make the understanding explicit in order to use systems thinking and systems tools in
organizations.

Simply put, a system is an organized collection of parts (or subsystems) that are highly integrated
to accomplish an overall goal. The system has various inputs, which go through certain processes
to produce certain outputs, which together, accomplish the overall desired goal for the system. So a
system is usually made up of many smaller systems, or subsystems. For example, an organization
is made up of many administrative and management functions, products, services, groups and
individuals. If one part of the system is changed, the nature of the overall system is often changed,
as well -- by definition then, the system is systemic, meaning relating to, or affecting, the entire
system. (This is not to be confused with systematic, which can mean merely that something is
methodological. Thus, methodological thinking -- systematic thinking -- does not necessarily mean
systems thinking.)

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46 Student’s Book Faculty of Medicine


Systems range from simple to complex. There are numerous types of systems. For example, there
are biological systems (for example, the heart), mechanical systems (for example, a thermostat),
human/mechanical systems (for example, riding a bicycle), ecological systems (for example,
predator/prey) and social systems (for example, groups, supply and demand and also friendship).
Complex systems, such as social systems, are comprised of numerous subsystems, as well.
These subsystems are arranged in hierarchies, and integrated to accomplish the overall goal
of the overall system. Each subsystem has its own boundaries of sorts, and includes various
inputs, processes, outputs and outcomes geared to accomplish an overall goal for the subsystem.
Complex systems usually interact with their environments and are, thus, open systems.

A high-functioning system continually exchanges feedback among its various parts to ensure that
they remain closely aligned and focused on achieving the goal of the system. If any of the parts or
activities in the system seems weakened or misaligned, the system makes necessary adjustments
to more effectively achieve its goals.

A pile of sand is not a system. If you remove a sand particle, you have still got a pile of sand.
However, a functioning car is a system. Remove the carburetor and you no longer have a working
car.

System Theory
History and Orientation
Hegel developed in the 19th century a theory to explain historical development as a dynamic
process. Marx and Darwin used this theory in their work. System theory (as we know it) was used
by L. von Bertalanffy, a biologist, as the basis for the field of study known as ‘general system
theory’, a multidisciplinary field (1968). Some influences from the contingency approach can be
found in system theory.

Core Assumptions and Statements


System theory is the transdisciplinary study of the abstract organization of phenomena, independent
of their substance, type, or spatial or temporal scale of existence. It investigates both the principles
common to all complex entities, and the (usually mathematical) models which can be used to
describe them. A system can be said to consist of four things. The first is objects – the parts,
elements, or variables within the system. These may be physical or abstract or both, depending
on the nature of the system. Second, a system consists of attributes – the qualities or properties
of the system and its objects. Third, a system had internal relationships among its objects. Fourth,
systems exist in an environment. A system, then, is a set of things that affect one another within
an environment and form a larger pattern that is different from any of the parts. The fundamental
systems-interactive paradigm of organizational analysis features the continual stages of input,
throughput (processing), and output, which demonstrate the concept of openness/closedness. A
closed system does not interact with its environment. It does not take in information and therefore
is likely to atrophy, that is to vanish. An open system receives information, which it uses to interact
dynamically with its environment. Openness increases its likelihood to survive and prosper.
Several system characteristics are: wholeness and interdependence (the whole is more than the
sum of all parts), correlations, perceiving causes, chain of influence, hierarchy, suprasystems
and subsystems, self-regulation and control, goal-oriented, interchange with the environment,
inputs/outputs, the need for balance/homeostasis, change and adaptability (morphogenesis)
and equifinality: there are various ways to achieve goals. Different types of networks are: line,
commune, hierarchy and dictator networks. Communication in this perspective can be seen as an
integrated process – not as an isolated event.

Health System and Disaster 47


Conceptual Model

Simple System Model.


Source: Littlejohn (1999)

 
Elaborated system perspective model.
Source: Infante (1997)

Favourite Methods
Network analysis, ECCO analysis. ECCO, Episodic Communication Channels in Organization,
analysis is a form of a data collection log-sheet. This method is specially designed to analyze
and map communication networks and measure rates of flow, distortion of messages, and
redundancy. The ECCO is used to monitor the progress of a specific piece of information through
the organization.

Scope and Application


Related fields of system theory are information theory and cybernetics. This group of theories
can help us understand a wide variety of physical, biological, social and behavioral processes,
including communication (Infante, 1997).

Example
Take for example family relations.

48 Student’s Book Faculty of Medicine


References
Key publications
1. Bertalanffy, von, L. (1968). General systems theory. New York: Braziller.
2. Laarmans, R. (1999). Communicatie zonder Mensen. Amsterdam: Uitgeverij Boom.
3. Luhmann, N. (1984). Soziale Systeme. Grund einer allgemeinen Theorie. Frankfurt am Main:
Suhrkamp
4. Midgley, G. (Ed.) (2003). Systems thinking. London: Sage.
5. Littlejohn, S.W. (2001). Theories of Human Communication. Belmont, CA: Wadsworth/
Thomson Learning.
6. Infante, D.A., Rancer, A.S. & Womack, D.F. (1997). Building communication theory. Prospect
Heights, Illinois: Waveland Press.

Group Discussion (10 minutes): What is Systems Thinking?

Health System and Disaster 49

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