people seem to have systems for just about everything how to get ready for work in the morning how to cut the lawn and even how to do the dishes the facts are we are a society of systems even people that do not have a system well that is their system for doing things one way or another systems are all around us and they are part of our world taking this a step further the systems management Theory believes that a system is a collection of parts brought together to accomplish some end goal or objective looking at it from that perspective if one part of the system fails or is taken out the system itself cannot work think about if you have a system to get ready for work in the morning and part of that system is taking a shower if there's no hot water or we're a shed no water at all the system breaks down and it is changed there is still a system just not the one you were used to and you have to change the system in order to get out the door and go to work that concept is really the foundation of the systems management theory for this Theory everything is part of a system all pieces go together and while it can indeed function if one part is taken out the functionality is impaired and the system itself has changed if we take that thought process behind this Theory it is safe to say we can begin to see how this Theory helps with a global representation what I mean is if we have systems and they work we can reproduce them all around the world okay with some modifications take McDonald's for example while the food in other countries might be different there are no hamburgers at McDonald's in India the system to get the food is the same walk up look at the menu on the board order combo meal number four and you're on your way thus the system is duplicated around the world and it works again we do have to make some modifications and I do not want you to think that one system works the same every everywhere but even with modifications the system makes it much easier for an organization to produce a similar customer experience around the world while McDonald's is only one example there are many more such as Starbucks Walmart or boarding an airplane the list goes on and on as you can see there is usually a company behind the system but the system is part of how the company runs in a few moments we are going to talk about different viewpoints on systems and that will also help you to understand the systems management Theory the best way to understand this concept is to imagine transportation and different modes of transportation we can say we are going to California but we could take a bus car or plane the same applies to the different viewpoints of the system types involved in systems management Theory while systems themselves can be duplicated and Go Global there are aspects of system types or or architecture if you will that help frame the type of system being used in systems management Theory we have three basic system types open system A system that continually interacts with the environment around it for example a manufacturer might use several different suppliers of flour to make the product they produce or an organization might have to move or change as the demands of consumers change closed system is the opposite of an open system it is a system or company independent of the environment around it usually when we look at closed systems we are looking at very high-tech types of products that have limited sources of input and produce a consistent product or output like space satellites in fact satellites are produced in a protected environment like a lab to ensure there's no contamination one of the simplest images that can help you grasp these first two types is a jar when it's open it's an open system it can interact with air water and anything else around it when it has a lid on it it's closed system it can only interact with what's inside the jar there are no outside influences on it the third basic type is a subsystem this is much easier to understand this is a system that is part of a larger system much like how the train system around an airport can get you from terminal to terminal the larger part of the system another way to get a mental image of sub systems is to think about about the human body one large systems makes us what we are however we have the subsystems of the digestive system nervous system and circulatory system contain within us the different types of systems exist as OD as this sounds where they are needed it is best not to really look at them as separate systems but rather as a viewpoint on what type of system or we could say product is present like our example of the company that needs flour it is only an open system because the company does interact with the environment around it a wide range of suppliers and then ultimately a wide range of consumers a closed system could be represented by the messages one might get from corporate headquarters those messages go out and tell you what to do and they are not looking for feedback or interaction do not get confused about the fact that when we talk about systems here we are not talking about the specific steps it takes to produce a product we're talking about what those steps taken together have the characteristics of an open closed or subsystem no matter what system is present there are times when the system will work right and have Synergy or order to a process where all the parts work harmoniously and in unison with each other or there are times that entropy will be present and that is Discord or a lack of predictability a gradual decline into disorder in other words either things work together or they do not no matter what system you have open closed or subsystem there can be either Synergy or entropy present it is a matter of how the managers producing the product want the system to work do they want everyone to be on the same page and work in unison with each other as a team like a pilot and a co-pilot of an airplane do they like it when there is Discord and people compete or fight against one another like a sales team where natural competition and Discord is sometimes preferred no matter what system organization or process is present there will be varying degrees of synergy or entropy present it is up to a manager to manage these areas and promote or remove them from the situation remember the systems management Theory believes that a system is a collection of Parts brought together to accomplish some end goal or objective also within that thought process we have different system types open system A system that continually interacts with the environment around it closed system is the opposite of an open system it is a system or company independent of the environment around it and subsystem a system that is part of a larger system these types of systems can operate with Synergy or entropy just because the system is present does not mean it will run smoothly what system an organization uses is dependent on the type of product they produce and how the company wishes to run no matter what at the end of the day every company has to have a a system in order to function it is just a matter of what type of system they choose