Wetenskap, mens en toekoms : 'n evaluering van die sistemefilosofie van Ervin Laszlo
- Pretorius, Alexander von Ludwig
- Authors: Pretorius, Alexander von Ludwig
- Date: 2014-09-10
- Subjects: Laszlo, Ervin, 1932- , System theory , Science - Philosophy
- Type: Thesis
- Identifier: uj:12237 , http://hdl.handle.net/10210/12003
- Description: D.Litt et Phil. (Philosophy) , Please refer to full text to view abstract
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- Authors: Pretorius, Alexander von Ludwig
- Date: 2014-09-10
- Subjects: Laszlo, Ervin, 1932- , System theory , Science - Philosophy
- Type: Thesis
- Identifier: uj:12237 , http://hdl.handle.net/10210/12003
- Description: D.Litt et Phil. (Philosophy) , Please refer to full text to view abstract
- Full Text:
Gesinsorganisasie rondom post-traumatiese effekte
- Authors: Barnard, Marlien
- Date: 2014-05-13
- Subjects: Post-traumatic stress disorder , System theory
- Type: Thesis
- Identifier: uj:11049 , http://hdl.handle.net/10210/10621
- Description: M.A. (Clinical Psychology) , The post-traumatic stress syndrome has traditionally been defined and treated as pathology residing within the individual. The systemic interactional approach which is favoured in this study, however, holds that all subsystems of the larger system are interconnected and that change within the individual subsystem therefore constitutes change in other subsystems. The question that is posed in this thesis, is whether the theoretical assumptions of the systemic approach may be applied to create a better, fuller understanding of the post-traumatic stress syndrome. Theoretical discussion of both a traditional and a systemic approach to the post-traumatic stress phenomenon, as well as their practical application by means of a case study, indicates that the traditional perspective on the posttraumatic stress syndrome is valuable in terms of diagnosis of the disorder and identification of possible causitive stressful life events. It is, however, very limiting in its specificity and does not allow for a full understanding of the diversity of behaviours presented by a system that has been traumatized, directly or indirectly. In this respect, the systemic interactional approach allows the therapist a wider perspective in which individual behaviour may be systemically contectualized, rendering the behaviour interactionally meaningful. Although the system typically presents with one member who apparently suffers from post-traumatic stress disorder, this study indicates that the whole fa~ily system may in fact come to crisis if the traumatic event cannot be accommodated within the existing interactional patterns. Under such conditions it may be functional to the family system to keep one subsystem overtly symptomatic in order-to focus its attention away from its own pain, thereby trapping theindividual in his symptomatic behaviour. The study thus aims to indicate the value that a systemic interactional approach may have in dealing with the effects of trauma on both the individual and the larger system.
- Full Text:
- Authors: Barnard, Marlien
- Date: 2014-05-13
- Subjects: Post-traumatic stress disorder , System theory
- Type: Thesis
- Identifier: uj:11049 , http://hdl.handle.net/10210/10621
- Description: M.A. (Clinical Psychology) , The post-traumatic stress syndrome has traditionally been defined and treated as pathology residing within the individual. The systemic interactional approach which is favoured in this study, however, holds that all subsystems of the larger system are interconnected and that change within the individual subsystem therefore constitutes change in other subsystems. The question that is posed in this thesis, is whether the theoretical assumptions of the systemic approach may be applied to create a better, fuller understanding of the post-traumatic stress syndrome. Theoretical discussion of both a traditional and a systemic approach to the post-traumatic stress phenomenon, as well as their practical application by means of a case study, indicates that the traditional perspective on the posttraumatic stress syndrome is valuable in terms of diagnosis of the disorder and identification of possible causitive stressful life events. It is, however, very limiting in its specificity and does not allow for a full understanding of the diversity of behaviours presented by a system that has been traumatized, directly or indirectly. In this respect, the systemic interactional approach allows the therapist a wider perspective in which individual behaviour may be systemically contectualized, rendering the behaviour interactionally meaningful. Although the system typically presents with one member who apparently suffers from post-traumatic stress disorder, this study indicates that the whole fa~ily system may in fact come to crisis if the traumatic event cannot be accommodated within the existing interactional patterns. Under such conditions it may be functional to the family system to keep one subsystem overtly symptomatic in order-to focus its attention away from its own pain, thereby trapping theindividual in his symptomatic behaviour. The study thus aims to indicate the value that a systemic interactional approach may have in dealing with the effects of trauma on both the individual and the larger system.
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Die assessering van gemeenskappe vanuit die lewende sisteemteorie
- Delport, Catharina Sophia Louisa
- Authors: Delport, Catharina Sophia Louisa
- Date: 2014-04-24
- Subjects: System theory , Social systems , System analysis , Decision making
- Type: Thesis
- Identifier: http://ujcontent.uj.ac.za8080/10210/381702 , uj:10903 , http://hdl.handle.net/10210/10410
- Description: M.A. (Social Work) , The research resulted from the lack of reliable and valid measurement instruments on community functioning. Operationalization of community functioning is complicated by the general character of widely used theories es related to communities in South Africa. Measurement is severely hampered by insufficient conceptualization. In the exploration of social service theory, the Living System Theory was selected as the theoretical underpinning for the research. Living System Theory offers a framework for processes and structures to critically and systematically describe, analyse, explain and interpret communities. Operationalization of community functioning was greatly expedited by the selection of the Living System Theory in view of its detailed description and universal character. In this study the term community from the Living System Theory, is conceptualized to In new synthesis and is also analysed systematically. In the systematic analyses of a community it was concluded that six relevant assessment areas occur in community context, namely: physical structures; transport; communication; decision-making; policy; and product/service. All six identified assessment areas were analysed systematically, but for the purposes of this study only decision-making was operationalized...
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- Authors: Delport, Catharina Sophia Louisa
- Date: 2014-04-24
- Subjects: System theory , Social systems , System analysis , Decision making
- Type: Thesis
- Identifier: http://ujcontent.uj.ac.za8080/10210/381702 , uj:10903 , http://hdl.handle.net/10210/10410
- Description: M.A. (Social Work) , The research resulted from the lack of reliable and valid measurement instruments on community functioning. Operationalization of community functioning is complicated by the general character of widely used theories es related to communities in South Africa. Measurement is severely hampered by insufficient conceptualization. In the exploration of social service theory, the Living System Theory was selected as the theoretical underpinning for the research. Living System Theory offers a framework for processes and structures to critically and systematically describe, analyse, explain and interpret communities. Operationalization of community functioning was greatly expedited by the selection of the Living System Theory in view of its detailed description and universal character. In this study the term community from the Living System Theory, is conceptualized to In new synthesis and is also analysed systematically. In the systematic analyses of a community it was concluded that six relevant assessment areas occur in community context, namely: physical structures; transport; communication; decision-making; policy; and product/service. All six identified assessment areas were analysed systematically, but for the purposes of this study only decision-making was operationalized...
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Hulpverlening in die voorligtingsielkunde : funksionele integrasie
- Authors: Crafford, Gert Deon
- Date: 2014-02-04
- Subjects: Counseling , System theory , Helping behavior
- Type: Thesis
- Identifier: uj:8010 , http://hdl.handle.net/10210/8946
- Description: M.A. (Psychology) , The present study represents an attempt to develop a metatheory with regard to counseling theory and practice. The metatheory is based upon principles abstracted from the General Systems Theory, whereby it is possible to encompass all levels of client functioning in the explanation of behavior and the application of helping strategies. The present state of theory in counseling was taken as the point of departure. Counseling theory is shown to be hindered by a state of seperateness and fragmentation. It is also shown that there currently exists a tendency towards the integration of different theories and the helping strategies involved. Eclecticism is studied as a way of integrating different counseling strategies. It is shown that although applicable as a method of integration, eclecticism is theoretically unsatisfactory because of its subjective and unsystematic character. Other methods of integration and its implications to the development of a meta theory in counseling is then discussed. The General Systems Theory is then discussed in terms of its value to the development of a metatheory in counseling. It is shown that by differentiating between the complex systems representing an individual's functioning, and the cybernetic feedback cycles involved in these systems, valuable guidelines for the implementation of helping strategies can be obtained. Two cybernetic feedback cycles that ought to be closely moni- . tored during the counseling process is mentioned. They are (a) the interactions amongst biological and physiological factors, thinking, feeling and acting, and (b) the feedback patterns in the larger social systems of which the client forms part, for example family and career functioning...
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- Authors: Crafford, Gert Deon
- Date: 2014-02-04
- Subjects: Counseling , System theory , Helping behavior
- Type: Thesis
- Identifier: uj:8010 , http://hdl.handle.net/10210/8946
- Description: M.A. (Psychology) , The present study represents an attempt to develop a metatheory with regard to counseling theory and practice. The metatheory is based upon principles abstracted from the General Systems Theory, whereby it is possible to encompass all levels of client functioning in the explanation of behavior and the application of helping strategies. The present state of theory in counseling was taken as the point of departure. Counseling theory is shown to be hindered by a state of seperateness and fragmentation. It is also shown that there currently exists a tendency towards the integration of different theories and the helping strategies involved. Eclecticism is studied as a way of integrating different counseling strategies. It is shown that although applicable as a method of integration, eclecticism is theoretically unsatisfactory because of its subjective and unsystematic character. Other methods of integration and its implications to the development of a meta theory in counseling is then discussed. The General Systems Theory is then discussed in terms of its value to the development of a metatheory in counseling. It is shown that by differentiating between the complex systems representing an individual's functioning, and the cybernetic feedback cycles involved in these systems, valuable guidelines for the implementation of helping strategies can be obtained. Two cybernetic feedback cycles that ought to be closely moni- . tored during the counseling process is mentioned. They are (a) the interactions amongst biological and physiological factors, thinking, feeling and acting, and (b) the feedback patterns in the larger social systems of which the client forms part, for example family and career functioning...
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Die rol van die gesin in terugvalvoorkoming
- Authors: Nicholas, Petro
- Date: 2012-09-07
- Subjects: Substance abuse -- Relapse -- Prevention , Communication in families , Family services , Drug abuse -- Treatment , Drug abuse -- Prevention , Alcoholics -- Family relationships , Social work with alcoholics -- South Africa , Social work with drug addicts -- South Africa , System theory
- Type: Thesis
- Identifier: uj:9786 , http://hdl.handle.net/10210/7191
- Description: M.A. , Dependency affects the family as a whole and forms part of the transactional patterns that regulates the behaviour of the family members. Seeing that the family and dependent person has a mutual effect on each other relapse prevention is also influenced by the family system. Therefore it is essential that social work intervention with the chemical dependant person focuses on the family as a whole. Relapses seems to be a factor that needs to be taken in to account in the field of chemical dependency because of the very high relapse rates. The dependant behaviour is altered through the anticipation and management of relapses. Through viewing relapse prevention from the systemic context the family system as a whole can be focused on relapse prevention and not just the individual. This study aimed at exploring the role of the family in relapse prevention, thus identifying family factors which are of importance in relapse prevention of the chemical dependent person. A Qualitative research methodology was utilised to explore the diverse experiences of families regarding relapse prevention. The focus of this research is therefore on the family processes through which families create, maintain and discuss their own reality thus was family context, interaction and dynamics studied. The theoretical basis for the intervention with the chemical dependant person is established in the discussion of the relapse prevention model as well as the general systems theory. From this theoretical basis a work protocol was compiled to which data that was gathered and analysed. For the aim of this study a nonpiobability purposive sample was used in the compiling of the two focus groups. The focus groups lend itself to interviewing with small groups where the respondents explore their own reality. The data was gathered by means of field notes and audio tapes which were transcribed. Analysis of data was.done according to schedules and these schedules were compiled according to the literature. The schedules were divided in to the family and relapse prevention categories. Coding was done by the researcher and a co-coder in order to compare the results. In the coding process the researcher and co-coder utilised the schedules to code the transcribed audio tapes and field notes. The information gleaned form the data gathering and analysis was used to identify central themes. These themes were offered as results. The results obtained were compared to relevant literature in order to further the reliability of the research. The reliability of the study was examined in the light of credibility, transferability, dependability, and confirmability. From the study methodological and theoretical conclusions could be drawn. The methodological conclusions have to do with the method of research which was utilised in this study. Regarding the contextual aims and context of the empirical study certain theoretical conclusions were drawn. The results and conclusions indicated certain family factors that play a role in relapse prevention in the family system. Recommendations were offered on the basis of the study and the conclusions drawn. The methodology and context of the empirical study directs the recomMendations drawn thus ensuring the practice orientation of the results and the connection of the results to the goal of this study. This, research indicates that the family plays an important role in relapse prevention of the chemical dependant person as well as the value of the application of the relapse prevention model with a systemic application in the social work intervention with the chemical dependant person.
- Full Text:
- Authors: Nicholas, Petro
- Date: 2012-09-07
- Subjects: Substance abuse -- Relapse -- Prevention , Communication in families , Family services , Drug abuse -- Treatment , Drug abuse -- Prevention , Alcoholics -- Family relationships , Social work with alcoholics -- South Africa , Social work with drug addicts -- South Africa , System theory
- Type: Thesis
- Identifier: uj:9786 , http://hdl.handle.net/10210/7191
- Description: M.A. , Dependency affects the family as a whole and forms part of the transactional patterns that regulates the behaviour of the family members. Seeing that the family and dependent person has a mutual effect on each other relapse prevention is also influenced by the family system. Therefore it is essential that social work intervention with the chemical dependant person focuses on the family as a whole. Relapses seems to be a factor that needs to be taken in to account in the field of chemical dependency because of the very high relapse rates. The dependant behaviour is altered through the anticipation and management of relapses. Through viewing relapse prevention from the systemic context the family system as a whole can be focused on relapse prevention and not just the individual. This study aimed at exploring the role of the family in relapse prevention, thus identifying family factors which are of importance in relapse prevention of the chemical dependent person. A Qualitative research methodology was utilised to explore the diverse experiences of families regarding relapse prevention. The focus of this research is therefore on the family processes through which families create, maintain and discuss their own reality thus was family context, interaction and dynamics studied. The theoretical basis for the intervention with the chemical dependant person is established in the discussion of the relapse prevention model as well as the general systems theory. From this theoretical basis a work protocol was compiled to which data that was gathered and analysed. For the aim of this study a nonpiobability purposive sample was used in the compiling of the two focus groups. The focus groups lend itself to interviewing with small groups where the respondents explore their own reality. The data was gathered by means of field notes and audio tapes which were transcribed. Analysis of data was.done according to schedules and these schedules were compiled according to the literature. The schedules were divided in to the family and relapse prevention categories. Coding was done by the researcher and a co-coder in order to compare the results. In the coding process the researcher and co-coder utilised the schedules to code the transcribed audio tapes and field notes. The information gleaned form the data gathering and analysis was used to identify central themes. These themes were offered as results. The results obtained were compared to relevant literature in order to further the reliability of the research. The reliability of the study was examined in the light of credibility, transferability, dependability, and confirmability. From the study methodological and theoretical conclusions could be drawn. The methodological conclusions have to do with the method of research which was utilised in this study. Regarding the contextual aims and context of the empirical study certain theoretical conclusions were drawn. The results and conclusions indicated certain family factors that play a role in relapse prevention in the family system. Recommendations were offered on the basis of the study and the conclusions drawn. The methodology and context of the empirical study directs the recomMendations drawn thus ensuring the practice orientation of the results and the connection of the results to the goal of this study. This, research indicates that the family plays an important role in relapse prevention of the chemical dependant person as well as the value of the application of the relapse prevention model with a systemic application in the social work intervention with the chemical dependant person.
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Integrating engineering management technology into a model for the effective management of an engineering of an engineering education project
- Authors: Robinson, Gavin Stuart
- Date: 2012-06-05
- Subjects: Engineering - Management , System theory , Project management
- Type: Thesis
- Identifier: uj:2442 , http://hdl.handle.net/10210/4900
- Description: M. Ing. , In this modern era, times and technology are changing at an ever increasing rate. Along with these changes, various challenges are presented for the future of engineering in South Africa. Moreover, ways and means of innovatively supplying in the need for future scholars in engineering and science is crucial for the economic stability of South Africa. This dissertation examines a model for the effective management of a Mathematics Advancement Programme, utilising engineering management technology, for a community engagement project to innovatively create future engineering scholars for tertiary education institutions. Application of project management and control systems theory, while including some leadership concepts, is made in the operational structure of a Maths Advancement Programme. Control systems theory has been applied to project management in order to create a sustainable method of monitoring feedback in a triangulation sampling system. The combination of non-probability sampling and purpose sampling systems forms the basis of the triangulation system. Evidence is presented regarding the findings on how effective the training of facilitators, in terms of leadership, was in comparison to other similar projects. Engineering Management Technology was used to practically run a community education project, this process clearly helped to establish improved results in mathematics and a renewed interest in engineering and science. It is also suggested that Control Systems related to project management and decision making should be researched further; in order to obtain greater benefits from the collaboration of these two areas of knowledge.
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- Authors: Robinson, Gavin Stuart
- Date: 2012-06-05
- Subjects: Engineering - Management , System theory , Project management
- Type: Thesis
- Identifier: uj:2442 , http://hdl.handle.net/10210/4900
- Description: M. Ing. , In this modern era, times and technology are changing at an ever increasing rate. Along with these changes, various challenges are presented for the future of engineering in South Africa. Moreover, ways and means of innovatively supplying in the need for future scholars in engineering and science is crucial for the economic stability of South Africa. This dissertation examines a model for the effective management of a Mathematics Advancement Programme, utilising engineering management technology, for a community engagement project to innovatively create future engineering scholars for tertiary education institutions. Application of project management and control systems theory, while including some leadership concepts, is made in the operational structure of a Maths Advancement Programme. Control systems theory has been applied to project management in order to create a sustainable method of monitoring feedback in a triangulation sampling system. The combination of non-probability sampling and purpose sampling systems forms the basis of the triangulation system. Evidence is presented regarding the findings on how effective the training of facilitators, in terms of leadership, was in comparison to other similar projects. Engineering Management Technology was used to practically run a community education project, this process clearly helped to establish improved results in mathematics and a renewed interest in engineering and science. It is also suggested that Control Systems related to project management and decision making should be researched further; in order to obtain greater benefits from the collaboration of these two areas of knowledge.
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Engineering management: the system-wide optimization of organizations
- Authors: Paddy, Ricardo J.
- Date: 2010-03-25T06:45:00Z
- Subjects: Engineering management , System theory , Organization , Management
- Type: Thesis
- Identifier: uj:6702 , http://hdl.handle.net/10210/3104
- Description: M.Ing. , Broadly speaking, the world in which we live exhibits complex interactions of multivariate and multidimensional parameters that are implemented by organizations in a global organizational space. Within this space exists numerous organizations in various disciplines and with various objectives, save the common objective of survival. These organizations compete in the environment created by this space, consuming energy, labour and raw materials from the environment and producing energy, finished products and waste back into the environment. The optimization of the operation, structure and existence of each organization in organizational space allows for a structured approach to symbiotic survival and the common achievement of a multitude of organizational objectives; providing for the avoidance of the depletion or extinction of resources, materials and energies within the space. If the world as we know it holds organizational space as one of its facets, then the global system is at the mercy of the operations of each organization, amongst others. The world then contains the embodiment of each system in some or other dimension. It allows for the training of the mind of the set of human systems to seek out that which allows for the progression of the common interest of the global system and thus the survival of each system it contains, ultimately leading to its own survival. Engineering management allows for the formalization of a relationship between two disciplines that can greatly impact the operation of the global system. It is not true that this is the most important of all disciplines; but what can be said to be true is that successful completion of the objectives of each discipline allows for the achievement of the overall system objectives. Together with all other disciplines, engineering management calls for both the consideration of organizational space as a whole and the consideration of each organization within the space. The consideration of all organizations as an open, selfcontained system allows for the satisfaction of the latter consideration by finding the solution to the question: “If I was a system, how would I want to be controlled and optimized?” An organizational system contains a set of components, inputs, energies, processes and outputs in one or other formation. Probably one of the most important elements of the component set is the set of human beings – a component which exhibits nonlinear and time variant response characteristics. The successful modeling and optimization of a system as a whole requires the modeling of each component and process, and that which poses the greatest difficulty is the human, perhaps because the one responsible for the modeling is itself a component of the same set. Viewed in light of the greater system, the author is simply a member of the component set of an academic organization interacting within the global organizational space, and this is the accumulation of the research that I respectfully present.
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- Authors: Paddy, Ricardo J.
- Date: 2010-03-25T06:45:00Z
- Subjects: Engineering management , System theory , Organization , Management
- Type: Thesis
- Identifier: uj:6702 , http://hdl.handle.net/10210/3104
- Description: M.Ing. , Broadly speaking, the world in which we live exhibits complex interactions of multivariate and multidimensional parameters that are implemented by organizations in a global organizational space. Within this space exists numerous organizations in various disciplines and with various objectives, save the common objective of survival. These organizations compete in the environment created by this space, consuming energy, labour and raw materials from the environment and producing energy, finished products and waste back into the environment. The optimization of the operation, structure and existence of each organization in organizational space allows for a structured approach to symbiotic survival and the common achievement of a multitude of organizational objectives; providing for the avoidance of the depletion or extinction of resources, materials and energies within the space. If the world as we know it holds organizational space as one of its facets, then the global system is at the mercy of the operations of each organization, amongst others. The world then contains the embodiment of each system in some or other dimension. It allows for the training of the mind of the set of human systems to seek out that which allows for the progression of the common interest of the global system and thus the survival of each system it contains, ultimately leading to its own survival. Engineering management allows for the formalization of a relationship between two disciplines that can greatly impact the operation of the global system. It is not true that this is the most important of all disciplines; but what can be said to be true is that successful completion of the objectives of each discipline allows for the achievement of the overall system objectives. Together with all other disciplines, engineering management calls for both the consideration of organizational space as a whole and the consideration of each organization within the space. The consideration of all organizations as an open, selfcontained system allows for the satisfaction of the latter consideration by finding the solution to the question: “If I was a system, how would I want to be controlled and optimized?” An organizational system contains a set of components, inputs, energies, processes and outputs in one or other formation. Probably one of the most important elements of the component set is the set of human beings – a component which exhibits nonlinear and time variant response characteristics. The successful modeling and optimization of a system as a whole requires the modeling of each component and process, and that which poses the greatest difficulty is the human, perhaps because the one responsible for the modeling is itself a component of the same set. Viewed in light of the greater system, the author is simply a member of the component set of an academic organization interacting within the global organizational space, and this is the accumulation of the research that I respectfully present.
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