The functionalist systems approach - a discussion agenda

Based on Jackson (2000), I note the following discussion agenda on the Funtionalist Systems Approach as follows:

1. Introduction
• Main metaphors used: machine, organism, brain, flux and transformation
2. Main Functional Systems Approaches
• Systems thinking of Barnard: organizations as oc-operative systems
• Contingency Theory of Kast and Resenweig
• Socio-technical Systems Theory of Emery, Rice and Trist
• Hard Systems Thinking and affiliated approaches
• Operational Research
• Systems Analysis of Miser and Quade
• System Dynamics Methodology of Forrester and Wolsenholme
• Organizational Cybernetics and the Viable System  Model of Beer
• Living Systems Theory of Miller
• Autopoiesis o Maturana and Varela
• Complexity Theory of Stacey
3. The constitutive rules underlying the Functional Systems Approach (re: Table 6,3 of Jackson (2000, pg. 203)
4. Critique fo the Functional Systems Approach

Try to read Chapter 6 of Jackson (2000) and then do further readings based on the references noted in that chapter to develop a deeper understanding of this approach.


Reference
Jackson, M.C. (2000) "Chapter 6: The Functionalist  Systems Approach", Systems Approaches to Management, Kluwer Academic/ Plenum Publishers