Systems Approach to Management

Summary

This session focuses on the systems approach to management, emphasizing the importance of understanding inputs, outputs, and processes within a managerial system. It discusses the necessity of digitization in modern organizations and the role of interrelated functions in achieving objectives with resource optimization. The analogy of academic institutions processing raw students into graduates is used to illustrate the concept. The session also covers managerial functions like planning, organizing, staffing, directing, and controlling, and suggests using feedback for continuous improvement. Recommended resources for further study include books and online materials.

Takeaways

• 🎓 The session aims to understand the inputs, outputs, and the concept of systems approach in management.
• 🧩 A managerial system is a set of inter-related functions aimed at achieving objectives through effective resource utilization.
• 🌐 Digitization is essential for organizations due to the complexity of modern firms and the digital world's pervasive influence.
• 🏭 In an academic context, the input is a raw student, processed through education to become an output, a graduate.
• 🔄 Inputs in management can be various resources like manpower, machines, materials, money, methods, markets, information, legal aspects, and government regulations.
• 🛠️ Processing in management involves executing managerial functions such as planning, organizing, staffing, directing, controlling, and forecasting.
• 🎯 The output of management is the achievement of objectives, which could be goods in manufacturing or services in service industries.
• 🔁 Systems approach can include closed-loop systems where feedback from outputs is used to improve future inputs and processes.
• 📚 The session references five books and suggests using the internet for further information on systems approach in management.
• 🙌 The session concludes with a thank you to the attendees, emphasizing the importance of understanding systems approach in today's digitized business environment.

Q & A

What is the main focus of the session on the systems approach to management?

The main focus of the session is to help students understand the concept of systems approach to management, including identifying the inputs and outputs of a managerial system, and recognizing the importance of effective utilization of resources to achieve organizational objectives.

Why is digitization considered essential in today's organizations?

Digitization is considered essential due to the increasing complexity of firms and the need to adapt to the digital world. It is seen as a vital component for any organization to remain competitive and efficient in their operations.

What is the basic schematic of a system as discussed in the session?

The basic schematic of a system involves having inputs, processing, and outputs. Inputs are the resources or raw materials that go into the system, processing refers to the functions or activities performed on these inputs, and outputs are the end results or products of the system.

Can you provide an example of how the input-output model is applied in an educational institution?

In an educational institution, the input could be a raw student who is then processed through various subjects and practical sessions. The output is a graduate student, specifically, a graduate engineer in the case of engineering institutions.

What are the different types of resources considered as inputs in the management process?

In the management process, inputs can include man (human resources), machine (equipment and technology), material (raw materials), money (financial resources), methods (processes and techniques), markets (customer base), information (data and knowledge), legal aspects, and government rules and regulations.

What are the managerial functions that constitute the processing part of the management system?

The managerial functions, which are part of the processing in the management system, include planning, organizing, staffing, directing, controlling, motivation, and forecasting.

How does the concept of feedback fit into the systems approach to management?

Feedback is an integral part of the systems approach to management as it allows for a closed-loop system. It involves taking the output, evaluating it, and using this information to make corrective actions or improvements in the input and processing stages for future planning periods.

What is the role of decision making and information flow in the digital world as per the session?

In the digital world, decision making and information flow play a vital role. Managers take decisions based on the information that flows within the organization, which is crucial for the effective functioning and adaptation to the dynamic digital environment.

What are the subsidiary systems mentioned in the session, and how do they contribute to achieving organizational objectives?

Subsidiary systems are the smaller systems within a larger organizational system. They contribute to achieving organizational objectives by performing specific functions in an efficient and effective manner, ensuring that the overall system operates optimally.

How does the session suggest improving the understanding of inputs, outputs, and processing in different industries?

The session encourages students to think about different industries, such as manufacturing or service industries, and consider what might be the inputs, outputs, and processing involved in those industries. This exercise helps to deepen the understanding of the systems approach to management across various sectors.