Cybernetics
“Cybernetics” is derived from the
(that is,
kybernetes. It means steersman, governor, pilot, or rudder; it is the same root
as the term government). Cybernetics
as a discipine is the study of a special
type of self
organising system. Whereas self organisation in general usually
entails self organisation for survival, cybernetis involves a system such as a
business, seeking specific goals. A cybernetic system has a circular operation
based on detecting signals as to how well the system is functioning,
responding to those signals by making appropriate adjustments, then taking a
fresh set of signals to determine whether the revised and supposedly enhanced
system is peforming as it meant to.
Thus cybernetic systems are both teleological (goal seeking) and self regulating
–
they seek a goal, they set out to find it, they obtain feedback on how the
search is going and they adjust their rudder or direction accordingly. Stafford
Beer (1926-2002) was one of the early and distinguished proponents of
cybernetics in management. There, as in its other forms, it is based on
and concepts such as communication
and control. It is
instutionalised in standard
management practice under which firms, with
operations and strategic management, monitor the internal and external
environment, rectify any problems that are found and take any opportunities
for improvement that present themselves. Meanwhile firm continue monitoring
so that they can observe if pior changes are achieving their intended purpose.
By this means there is a continuous process of constant improvement, uptake
of opportunities and adjustment to a changing environment.
Internal Conflict
Introduction
Kurt Lewin (1980-1947) the American social psychologist was regarded as the
founder of social psychology. His work has great relevance to dispute
resolution in fields such as law and management. One of his best known
concepts Force Field Analysis which is a means of describing and assessing
conflicting forces. It includes Force Field Diagrams.
Field
Nature of the Field
rested his analysis of social behaviour on the concept of a field which
was drawn from Gestalt psychology. Gestalt psychology (also Gestalt theory
or the Berlin School) is a theory of mind and brain. It does not view the mind
as a box containng a set of separate operators that perform functions for us
such as memory and thinking. Instead it sees the mind as a complex system - it
is holistic and also possesses self-organising tendencies.
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