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DMFT-8715

Creating and Sustaining Optimal Organizational Systems

Lesson 1 Resources

Required Readings 

The Ecology of Human Development 
Bronfenbrenner, U. (1996). The ecology of human development. [electronic resource] : Experiments by nature and design. Harvard University Press. 
Just Chapter 2, pages 16-42. It provides a brief overview of the concepts of Bronfenbrenner’s theory.   

Nested or Networked? Future Directions for Ecological Systems Theory 
Neal, J. W., & Neal, Z. P. (2013). Nested or networked? Future directions for ecological systems theory. Social Development, 22(4), 722–737. https://doi.org/10.1111/sode.12018 
This paper is a little older but provides an excellent overview of Bronfenbrenner’s theory. While the paper applies this knowledge to childhood development, the social development component provides food for thought around social interactions in the workplace. 

Loosely Coupled Systems: A Reconceptualization 
Orton, J. D., & Weick, K. E. (1990). Loosely coupled systems: A reconceptualization. Academy of Management Review, 15(2), 203–223. https://doi.org/10.5465/AMR.1990.4308154 
While not the earliest work by Weick, it offers a valuable way of rethinking Weick’s work by himself and another author. 

Family-Based Approach to the Child Welfare System: An Integration of Bowen Family Theory Concepts 
Thompson, H. M., Wojciak, A. S., & Cooley, M. E. (2019). Family-based approach to the child welfare system: an integration of Bowen family theory concepts. Journal of Family Social Work, 22(3), 231–252. https://doi.org/10.1080/10522158.2019.1584776 
Provides an overview of Bowen’s family systems theory and integrates it with other systems theory development. 

The History and Status of General Systems Theory 
von Bertalanffy, L. (1972). The history and status of general systems theory. Academy of Management Journal, 15(4), 407–426. https://doi.org/10.2307/255139 
This is an original paper by the theorist. It provides an excellent exploration of early systems thinking from the Greeks to the early Christian writers. It demonstrates the deep roots for systems thinking and lays the groundwork for subsequent systems theories.   

Kaltura User Guide  
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