• A model of set of interrelated
principles and concepts that explains an
organizations complex entities
• General system theory is extremely
generic and can be applicable to many
different fields
History of general system theory
• Over time, system theorist were trying to develop
a theory that explained all system across all fields
• In 1936, Ludwing von Bertalanffy developed
the general system theory to solve this
problem
• The theory was further
developed by Ross Ashby
in 1995
Biography of Bertalanffy
• Born September 19,
1901 in Atzgersdorf,
Austria
• He studied philosophy of science and biology
y eventually to study biology at the university
of Vienna
• He wrote the most
famous book in the
general system theory
• He also published the
individual growth model
• He died in Buffalo
New York in 1972
Biography of Ashby
• Born in September 6,
1903 in London
• He studied and became a
doctor at Cambridge
University
• He was President for te society of
general system research from
1962-1964
• Was widely influential in
cybernetics, system theory and
complex systems
• He died in 1972
GST facts
• Bertalanfyy expressed thah real system are exposed to,
and work together with, their environments and can
obtain qualitatively new properties through development
resulting in constant development
• The same concept and principles of
organizations underlie different disciplines
provifing a basis for their unification
• System concept include
o System-environment boundary
o Input
o Output
o Process
o State
o Hierarchy
o Gail directedness
o Information
How is GST relevant to us?
• As mentioned before the general
system theory encompasses all
disciplines that utilize systems
• As time and technology has evolved, there has
been great emphasis on information systems
• Many organizations such as IBM and Texas
Instruments rely on this theory to help
their business run efficiently
Information system
• System consisting of the networks of all
communication channels used within an
organization
Network security system
• The objective of network security includes protection of
information and property from theft, corruption, or natural
disaster, while allowing the information and property to
remain accessible and productive to its intended users