Open Systems and Strategy Definition

 

Open system theorist, Thompson (2007), pushed for a study of organizations as a whole with a particular emphasis on the uncertainty / certainty dimension that comes from the environment. Thompson argued that a lot of organizational behavior is an attempt to eliminate or manage uncertainty and protection of a technical core from the environment. Adding uncertainty to a definition of strategy would create a fuller and richer definition. Porter (1996) defined strategy as a "unique and valuable position, involving a different set of activities" (Porter, 1996, p. 68). Dovetailing Porter and Thompson I would suggest the following definition of strategy:

Organizations should construct activities and positions that focus on eliminating or managing uncertainty.

A test of a theory or definition is how well does it explain or predictive observed data and think this definition has that trait. Southwest Airline strategy of having short-haul, providing low-cost tickets and use of only 737 airliners have a uncertainty elimination factors. Short-hauls are subject to less delays and lost time can be made up in the air. The market for low cost airline travel was open and they seemed certain to be a leader in the market. Southwest having only one aircraft time reduces a need for cross trained pilots and mechanics.

It can be argued that adding uncertainty management to Porter's definition of strategy and adds clarity. It easy to envision a strategy process that dominated by a desire to eliminate uncertainty.

 

References

Porter, E. (1996, Nov. - Dec.). What is Strategy? Harvard Buiness Review , 61-78.

Thompson, J. (2007). Organizations in Action. In J. Thompson. New Brunswick: Transaction Publishers.

 

Who Am I?

My involvement with IT began because I was publishing and printing newsletters as a public relations professional in the early 1980s. Graphic artists and typesetters began showing me how they could do their work on Apples. I was hooked. I slowly began moving my paste-up and layout to computers. By 1994, I was more into computers than public relations so I took a position managing the desktop publishing and computer rentals at Kinko's in Utah. I have worked as a Help Desk Manager, Network Engineer, and Networking instructor since then.

My technical expertise is in network engineering and database administration. I hold certifications from Novell and Microsoft. My Cisco certification has expired. My consulting work focused on network engineering and database administration. I have done large directory services designs and small database installations.

I am currently a college instructor in Business Information Systems at a college in Utah. I manage all the textbook, courses, and part time instructors. I also teach a full time load. I focus on hands on labs and service learning and I really try to avoid the sage on the stage approach.

My college is focused on market driven skills programs so we offer Applied Associates degrees in accounting, information systems, interior design, medical assisting, and administrative assistants.

I am currently enrolled in an IT Management PhD program at Capella. My goal is to move to a university and you have to a PhD at that level. I earned a bachelor's in Journal ism and Mass Communications in 1981 and a master's in Training in 1983.

 

Basic Programming

I am trying to make a switch in my core technical skill: Networking to Programming. I am very comfortable with servers, routers and database administration but programming is something new.

I have found that the design skills I learned in networking transfer to programming. I really feel you have to design it right before executing.

I am training myself using a program called Alice. This is a movie making program that teaches core programming skills. You learn about objects, methods and messages while creating little stories. I can see students really liking it. They could create games or stories.

I can recommend a book titled Alice in Action (Adams 2007).

This might be away to teach students to visualize networks and learn programming.

 

References

Adams, J. Alice in Action. Boston: Thomson Course Technology, 2007.