Systems theory

A. Three main concepts about systems theory.

„« The ripple effect

1. A chain reaction that spreads across a system affecting almost all or all parts.

2. The ripple effect can start as a small blip that alone has little importance. However, when this small incident starts to affect other parts of a large system, it spreads causing magnified problems for the group and its individual members. Cal State University, Chico had poor budget planning and too many extra expenses over the last few years, such as a brand new student union building and a new building for physical education and recreation majors. Due to the extra expenses, tuition has been steadily increasing, while funding for many things has been cut. Because of the cuts, fewer professors are being staffed. With fewer professors classes are being canceled, class size has dramatically increased, and it is taking students a longer time to graduate.

„« Synergy

1. This is when the individual parts of a group create a greater outcome than just the sum of the members. The potential that 4 individuals bring into a situation in multiplied because of the group dynamic.

2. A group consisting of 6 members has 6 individual personalities, intelligence levels, creativity, work ethic and numerous other traits. If synergy occurs, when these individuals get together their potential is not merely the sum of their traits. They become amplified by each other and produce a greater result. When the hunt for Saddam Hussein was on, our government agencies that have always worked alone in the past collaborated. With the FBI, CIA and other powerful agencies pooling their resources and knowledge, a greater goal was able to be accomplished; the capture of Saddam Hussein.

„« Negative Synergy

1. This is when individual parts of a group have a negative influence on each other, causing the sum of the individuals to be less than expected.

2. This can happen due to a single member with a negative attitude, or multiple members clashing due to ego or refusal to compromise and adapt. If 6 people get together in a group, and the group dynamic is compromised because of clashing trait...

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... right way to do it. He didn¡¦t want to hear about how the rest of the group wanted to approach the problem. I usually ended up doing the majority of the work with the fourth member of our group who I meshed well with. We helped each other and learned from each other without ego or stubbornness, but this aggravated the other two members. We had to come up with one final product for the four of us, so after a few weeks of learning that we couldn¡¦t do it together we split the work and pulled it together at the end of class. We were always the last people done and we always left in a bad mood.

C. The ripple effect is something that usually can¡¦t be helped. If something happens, it¡¦s going to affect another aspect of the group and so on. Synergy and negative synergy are also dynamics that you either have or you don¡¦t. Negative synergy can be worked on through compromise and effort, as synergy can be improved through communication and group relationships. In future groups I will be more aware of group dynamic and how it affects productivity. Synergy is important to be productive and accomplish goals set out by a group. I will attempt to make future groups cohesive working systems.