| The development of general system theory (GST) can be viewed as a search for the following principles: order within and across disciplines, holism, control through information feedback, universal processes and structures (those relevant across similarly contexted disciplines and within disciplines), and a general theory of organization. The development of GST principles and their application has provided a new framework for organization and management (O&M) study and practice.; The GST framework for O&M problem solving has resulted in problem-solvers moving away from single- or limited-dimension approaches toward an approach that views the organization and its problems within the larger perspective of holistic analysis. The organization is viewed as part of an organizational milieu in which the organization is influenced or affected to varying degrees.; Working within the GST framework, this research delineated and differentiated significant approaches to O&M, integrated significant elements of these approaches into a system theory upon which to base a general problem-solving framework for O&M, and presented ways to apply the integrated system theory to O&M problem solving and research.; The research focused particularly on Stafford Beer's managerial cybernetics; Russell Ackoff's proactive planning model; James Miller's living systems theory (and the resultant living systems process analysis); Johnson, Kast, and Rosenweig's applied systems theory; Jay Forrester's systems dynamics (industrial dynamics); and Peter Checkland's human activity systems. The works were examined with respect to the significant cybernetics and general systems concepts employed, the approaches that have contributed to O&M, and the spectrum of applications that have developed around each approach. In addition, comparisons were made by developing a taxonomy of O&M problem types and relating each of the six approaches to the problem categories.; The O&M problem-solving framework was devised to facilitate O&M problem solving and advance the study of O&M from a general systems and cybernetics perspective. The full framework includes O&M frames or paradigms, the integrated system theory, advantages and applications of the six approaches, and a list of problem types with appropriate approaches. |
