General System Theory - Dissertation Example

 TOC is argued to offer supportive information on how to overcome such constraints. As such, a challenge like inadequate leadership and management can be solved by redesigning the leadership and management structure of organisations that tend to be affected by such challenges (Dettmer 1997). Arguably, such a measure, which is highlighted by TOC can be used to improve the performance of the organisation because organisations that have better results have been associated with competent and effective leadership and management. In another dimension, TOC is used to understand both internal and external constraints.

This means that external challenges such as cultural differences could be analysed and articulated upon by a way of understanding dynamics of how gender and language barriers could be approached differently in order to improve organisations’ performance. General system theory In an attempt to actualise the functionality of GST, this theory stipulates on several levels through which organisations can improve performance. The most notable one is the static structure (Greene 1999). This level is analysed to represent the anatomy of the universe.

It is represented by the patterns of electrons around a nuclear (Weckowicz 2000). However, whereas such anatomy can be used to explain the complexity of an organisation, some important aspects of external challenges facing an organisation cannot be well addressed since they cannot be part of the nuclear (of the organisation). Challenges such as different learning styles by different students and gender-based participation barriers appear to be forces outside the organization. Besides, distance learning encompasses the diversification of a single organisation into a complex set of educational tools to be used by a single organisation.

Therefore, it would be difficult to focus or address some of the challenges affecting distance learning using this theory. Contingency theory The emphasis of this theory is mainly on the importance of a leader’s personality and the situation under which the leader operates (Bacher 2007). In essence, Fielder Edward and his associates outlined two main styles of leadership that are articulated by the theory; task motivated and relationship motivated style (Donaldson 2001). As much as these two styles can be put into the context of helping to improve distance learning organisation, there is much that needs to be looked at especially on how such motivations can be applied in the context of issues affecting other persons/stakeholders of the organisation apart from the leaders of the organisation.

In light of this, challenges emanating from students and the environment cannot be solved using this theory. Socio-Technical Theory In regard to the challenge of inappropriate digital infrastructure, it is apparent that this theory can shed some light on how to approach such a challenge (Miner 2007). This is in light of what the theory underpins its argument that an organisation’s technical subsystems comprise tools and techniques that can be improved by adjusting social systems in order to maximise the organisation’s performance (Avison & Fitzgerald 2006; Jackson 2000).

However, challenges such as cultural differences of students, who in the relation to the theory are customers, cannot be addressed using the theory because its main focus is on how to improve the performance of the organisation, which in this case are the employees and their wellness.  As much as this theory can be applied in the research to enhance communication (Miller 2012; Chitode 2010) between the lecturers and the students, there is a big challenge on how other challenges such as language barrier can be improved in order to facilitate the communication. In addition, even if these two challenges were to be addressed using the theory, a challenge like lack of tutor skills and professionalism still needs to be addressed, and this is not part of what this theory stipulates.