GUIDELINES TO NRDC feb 24 2014

Systems Approach to Management, ContinuedExampleFor decades American auto manufacturers made cars without fullyconsidering pressures from their environment. They ignored foreigncompetition and impact of the energy crisis. They marketed cars withoutreally knowing what customers wanted, nor did they attempt to find out.Customers reacted by turning to the better quality and designs of foreignmadecars.Finally American auto makers woke up; they examined their environment,studied the competition, and listened to their customers. They began to makequality cars that withstood competition and lured customers back into theirshowrooms.AdditionalprinciplesHere are more principles from General Systems Theory and other schools ofmanagement thought that apply to system processes:PrincipleSynergyFlexibilityContingencyEfficiencyEffectivenessDescriptioThe whole is greater than the n sum of its parts.Example: People working as a team achieve morethan they do working separately.Since there's usually more than one way to do somethingwell, we need not waste effort seeking the one best way.The situation determines what works best. Somethingthat works in one situation may fail in another becauseof time, place, or circumstance.Note: This principle has an exception. It doesn'tapply to decisions having ethical implications. Werewe to apply it to ethical decisions, it could threatenethical values for the sake of practicality.Doing things right--x The first time.x With minimum errors and waste.Doing the right things requires focusing on key goals andpriorities to accomplish the mission.Note. Efficiency and effectiveness are interdependent.However, effectiveness is more important as it is uselessto do things right if they're not the right things. Section3 discusses this notion in more detail.NRDC GRC – Staff Handbook1-4