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Social Systems Frameworks

Social Systems Frameworks. August 2008 (Cook, J.B. n.d. Community Development Theory. Department of Community Development.). Systems Frameworks Advantages. Practical prescriptions for community improvement not easy Process at best will be complex, imperfect, incomplete & on-going

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Social Systems Frameworks

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  1. Social Systems Frameworks August 2008(Cook, J.B. n.d. Community Development Theory. Department of Community Development.)

  2. Systems Frameworks Advantages • Practical prescriptions for community improvement not easy • Process at best will be complex, imperfect, incomplete & on-going • C/D theory heavily depends on general systems & social systems’ conceptual frameworks to organize & relate the ideas, intelligence & info uncovered in process of engagement • Advantages are: • descriptions, explanations, predictions & prescriptions can be expressed readily in system terms • Placing questions & events in context of system has proved to search out relationships & patters of interaction • Used generously in many disciplines ranging from biology to sociology • Compatible with holistic approach (Bertalanffy)

  3. Communities as Systems • Communities as systems are conceived as entities that can be differentiated from what is around them –environment: • Have some kind of boundaries & interactions take place across the boundaries • Transactions from the environment to community systems are inputs: • Community systems are selective in what is accepted as input & have criteria to sort acceptable inputs from other potential stimuli –coding • Community systems do work & perform transformations with inputs • Products of the work discharged into environment as outputs • Info about reaction in environment be transmitted back to system as form of input –feedback • Thus community system is conceived in relation to the environment • Conceptualization & application of the systems framework requires social systems theory elaboration

  4. 1) Community as Social Systems • Operate by action of people– in community systems the basic unit not taken to be a person but a role • Roles in context are performed by persons & persons considered much more that a role; same person might perform multiple roles in same social system or in a no. of social systems • The differentiation of a person from civic roles they may perform is very NB in community development practice

  5. Pattern of Social Systems • Social role = set of expected behaviors in given situation • It functions to provide a place in other roles with reliable expectations of performance; thus a role operates in relation to other roles • Roles relating together in perceivable pattern = structures • In larger social systems, structures relating together to handle specialized parts form subsystems which in turn relating together form systems • Community systems are dynamic not static – thus elements of motion & change have to be attached to the mode • Motion & change requires the dimension of time • NB classification for community development theory involves Katz & Kahn’s genotypic functions to be carried out by mature social systems

  6. Genotypic Functions • Production– tasks directly related to basic work of the system –fabrication of goods & services produced by community system • Support & maintenance– tasks of bringing support inputs, e.g raw materials to production functions & servicing work processes • Managerial/political –tasks of decision-making re interaction of production & support functions & regulating input/output transactions with environment • Planning & adaptation– tasks considering actions that may affect future operations & making provisions for adjustments/change in system’s configuration & activities called for by events in environment • Genotypic functions model can be used as predictive theory re stages of structural development • Existing community systems often deficient in planning structures & processes; communities commonly try to handle planning through ‘political’ subsystem

  7. Systems Framework Community Definition • NB to differentiate communities from other classifications of social systems • A community is a particular type of social system distinguished by following characteristics: • People involve in the system have sense of recognition of relationships & areas of common concerns with other members • System has longevity, continuity & persistance • Operations depend on voluntary cooperation with minimal use of sanctions/threat • Multi-functional – system expected to produce many things to many dimensions of interactions • System is complex, dynamic & large so that instrumental relationships predominate • Geographic element associated with communities thus basic boundaries

  8. Development • In community development the term “Development”is taken as reference to particular type of conscious effort to stimulate improvement; in this sense all positive changes are not result of development • Set of ideas used to differentiate development from other forms of positive change: • System subject to change exists • Change will take place incrementally within process over extended time • Once process has begun it’s very unlikely that system will be able to return to original state • Process stimulated & given direction by conscious effort • Conscious effort provide direction, a model of development with reference pints & expectations • Each stage in systems has not been experience before • Operates as learning process • Accomplishments evaluated only i.t.o. judgments of people in the system • Results judged to be more positive & worth the costs

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