Systems approach
This school of recent origin having developed in late 1960's. it is an integrating approach which considers the management in its totally based on empirical data. According to this approach, attention must be paid to the overall effectiveness of the system rather than the effectiveness of a sub system in isolation from the sub system. The main emphasis is on the interdependence and inters relatedness of the various sub systems, from the point of view of the effectiveness of a large system.
Main contributes: Main contributes to this school of thought are Kenneth, Boulding, Johnson, cast, Rosen Zweig and C.W. Churchman. Another important contributor is Martin particularly in the area of the management audit system. It's essential features are as follows:
1. A system has a number of sub systems, parts and sub parts are mutually related to each other. This relationship is in the context of the whole and is very complex. A change in the one part will effect changes in others.
2. The systems approach emphasizes the study of the various parts in their inter relationships rather than in the isolation from each other.
3. All the sub systems parts and sub parts are mutually related to each other. This relationship is in the context.
4. The system approach to the management brings out the complexity of a real life management problem much more sharply than any of the other approaches.
5. It can be utilized by any other school of management thought.
6. The boundary of a system may be classified into two parts: (a) closed system that has no environment, that is no outside systems which impinge on it for which no outside systems are to be considered, and (2) open system that has an environment, that is, it possesses systems with which it relates, exchanges and communications.
Uses and limitations: the system approach has been utilized in studying the function of complex organizations. It has been used as the base for new kinds of organization like the project management organization. However, the problem which this method is it's utters complexity particularly when it comes to a study of large and complex organizations.