SYSTOIT Systems Theory, Organizations and IT

Level

Advanced level - Second cycle course

Requirements

90 hp Computer and Systems Sciences

Aim

The course gives an introduction to systems theory and systems science approaches to organizations, systems development and learning. The purpose is to give students a theoretical and practical toolkit to handle complex issues regarding IT and organizations.

The overall aim of the course is to give the student basic knowledge in systems theory as well as systems theory tools/models to be able to study, diagnose and change organizations by using IT.

After completing the course, the student should be able to: - define and exemplify basic concepts of systems theory - describe and explain systems by using systems theory - apply systems theory concepts and reasoning to deal with complex problems - describe and diagnose organizational systems by using a systemic model - assess effectiveness of IT systems from a systems theory perspective - exemplify how to use systems theory to manage learning in organizations

Syllabus

The course introduces the students to systems science, i.e., knowledge about systems. The term 'system' is understood in a very general way, but in this course we focus on the intersection between information technology/organizations and systems sciences.

Systems behave and appear in different ways - and to be able to study, understand and design them, we need working concepts. Holism, subsystems, processes, relations and environment are examples of concepts covered. Furthermore, in the course we will relate to organizations as systems and discuss their efficiency and effectiveness, information management and control. Systems theory is applied in business and social contexts, and we use systems theory models and methods to discuss and diagnose organizations and processes. How to use systems theory in order to study IT-systems and IT-management are also covered. The basic idea is to give systems scientists and students from other IT-programs an academic framework that will help them develop an organizational and systems science perspective on their technical knowledge.

Outline

The course consists of lectures, practical assignments/lessons and a final seminar. In the course, there are group assignments in systems theory concepts and how to make use of them when dealing with complex systems such as organizations and their IT usage, and we will use the Viable Systems Model (VSM) for diagnosing organizations.

The course is given in english.