Description
Social Systems, Culture, and Individualization
Social Systems, Culture, and Individualization
A social system is a complex set of human relationships interacting in many ways. Within an organization, the social system includes all the people in it and their relationships to each other and to the outside world. The behavior of one member can have an impact, either directly or indirectly, on the behavior of others. Also, the social system does not have boundaries... it exchanges goods, ideas, culture, etc. with the environment around it. Culture is the conventional behavior of a society that encompasses beliefs, customs, knowledge, and practices. It influences human behavior, even though it seldom enters into their conscious thought. People depend on culture as it gives them stability, security, understanding, and the ability to respond to a given situation. This is why people fear change. They fear the system will become unstable, their security will be lost, they will not understand the new process, and they will not know how to respond to the new situations.Individualization is when employees successfully exert influence on the social system by challenging the culture. Quadrant A — Too little socialization and too little individualization creates isolation. Quadrant B — Too little socialization and too high individualization creates rebellion. Quadrant C — Too high socialization and too little individualization creates conformity. Quadrant D — While the match that organizations want to create is high socialization and high individualization for a creative environment. This is what it takes to survive in a very competitive environment... having people grow with the organization, but doing the right thing when others want to follow the easy path. This can become quite a balancing act. Individualism favors individual rights, loosely knit social networks, self respect, and personal rewards and careers—it may become look out for Number One! Socialization or collectivism favors the
group, harmony, and asks “What is best for the organization?” Organizations need people to challenge, question, and experiment while still maintaining the culture that binds them into a social system.
doc_850355120.docx
Social Systems, Culture, and Individualization
Social Systems, Culture, and Individualization
A social system is a complex set of human relationships interacting in many ways. Within an organization, the social system includes all the people in it and their relationships to each other and to the outside world. The behavior of one member can have an impact, either directly or indirectly, on the behavior of others. Also, the social system does not have boundaries... it exchanges goods, ideas, culture, etc. with the environment around it. Culture is the conventional behavior of a society that encompasses beliefs, customs, knowledge, and practices. It influences human behavior, even though it seldom enters into their conscious thought. People depend on culture as it gives them stability, security, understanding, and the ability to respond to a given situation. This is why people fear change. They fear the system will become unstable, their security will be lost, they will not understand the new process, and they will not know how to respond to the new situations.Individualization is when employees successfully exert influence on the social system by challenging the culture. Quadrant A — Too little socialization and too little individualization creates isolation. Quadrant B — Too little socialization and too high individualization creates rebellion. Quadrant C — Too high socialization and too little individualization creates conformity. Quadrant D — While the match that organizations want to create is high socialization and high individualization for a creative environment. This is what it takes to survive in a very competitive environment... having people grow with the organization, but doing the right thing when others want to follow the easy path. This can become quite a balancing act. Individualism favors individual rights, loosely knit social networks, self respect, and personal rewards and careers—it may become look out for Number One! Socialization or collectivism favors the
group, harmony, and asks “What is best for the organization?” Organizations need people to challenge, question, and experiment while still maintaining the culture that binds them into a social system.
doc_850355120.docx