From Autoreferentiality to Interdipendence: healthcare, social welfare and local service's governance in Sicily

2012 ◽  
pp. 166-174
Author(s):  
Sergio Severino ◽  
Paolo Di Venti
Keyword(s):  
Social Welfare ◽  
Health System ◽  
Systems Theory ◽  
Critical Reflection ◽  
Social Systems ◽  
General Systems Theory ◽  
The Social ◽  
General Systems ◽  
And Control ◽  
Rules And Standards

This paper argues a critical reflection about the dynamics of the Sicilian Health System. The analysis of its internal reforms shows the effort to achieve a gradual decentralization of management and control bodies. It was conceptualized as a de-generalization process, described starting from the von Bertalanffy's General Systems Theory. This latter allows to fit the concept of complexity to the social systems dynamic's, characterized by specific rules and standards aimed to an ever new fitting to the environment.

Theoretical Conversation and Conceptual Transplants Between Economics and Systems Theory: Towards an Interpretative Passe-partout of Functional Systems

2017 ◽  
Vol 29 (1) ◽  
pp. 67-81 ◽  
Author(s):  
Laura Appignanesi
Keyword(s):  
Systems Theory ◽  
Social System ◽  
Evolutionary Dynamics ◽  
Functional Differentiation ◽  
General Systems Theory ◽  
Optimal Point ◽  
Change Factors ◽  
Social System Theory ◽  
The Social ◽  
General Systems

General systems theory is based on functional differentiation and operational closure, which make autopoiesis possible. However, in the current complex framework, the model proposed by Luhmann seems to need some supplements in order to explain the evolutionary dynamics of world society. While adopting a systemic approach and using its related theoretical tools, the focus is shifted from the inside of a system to its boundaries. The thesis proposed is the integration between the principle of functional differentiation and that of functional connectivity. To prove such an assumption and overcome the limitations of operational closure, the Luhmannian concept of ‘structural coupling’ is used, but theoretical tools borrowed from economics (trade-off, optimal point) are also employed. This interdisciplinary integration makes it possible to argue the shift of the sociological paradigm from ‘functionalism of differences’ towards ‘functionalism of links’. Constitutive and evolutionary dynamics seem to be connected with the optimum combination of the system’s openness and closure and the ability to establish intersystemic communication channels, where the latter determines resilience to the change factors of the environment. And it is this constant disposition to change that enables the reproduction of the social system. JEL: Z Other special topics: (Social System Theory)

In search of control variables: A systems approach

1997 ◽  
Vol 20 (4) ◽  
pp. 772-772 ◽  
Author(s):  
G. J. Dalenoort
Keyword(s):  
Systems Theory ◽  
Systems Approach ◽  
Control Variable ◽  
Unified Model ◽  
General Systems Theory ◽  
Proper Treatment ◽  
Motor Processes ◽  
General Systems ◽  
And Control ◽  
Different Levels

Motor processes cannot be modeled by a single (unified) model. Instead, a number of models at different levels of description are needed. The concepts of control and control variable only make sense at the functional level. A clear distinction must be made between external models and internal models. General Systems Theory provides the framework for a proper treatment of these issues.

A Group Awaiting Death: The Social Systems Perspective on a Naturally Occurring Group Situation

1983 ◽  
Vol 13 (1) ◽  
pp. 79-89 ◽  
Author(s):  
Steven Starker ◽  
Joan E. Starker
Keyword(s):  
Intensive Care Unit ◽  
Intensive Care ◽  
Systems Theory ◽  
Social Systems ◽  
Task Structure ◽  
Systems Perspective ◽  
Naturally Occurring ◽  
The Social ◽  
Group Situation ◽  
Imminent Death

The decline and imminent death of an individual in a hospital's intensive care unit led to the creation of a transient group composed of family and friends. The dynamics of this tragic group are explored using the concepts provided by Social Systems theory. Ambiguity of the task structure and its inherent frustrations, fluidity of leadership and power, and failure of a utopian defense are all discussed as contributors to subsequent dissension and splitting. The social systems perspective provides a useful tool for understanding this naturally occurring group situation.

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