Transitioning From Closed to Open Systems

How do effective nurse leaders and others approach problem solving and decision making in organizations? As suggested in this week’s Learning Resources, systems theory provides a valuable way to assess situations and prepare to address problems.

For this week’s Discussion, you identify an issue or process that could be improved and apply knowledge and strategies related to systems theory.

Note: You may find it helpful to view the Assignment instructions and use the same problem for this Discussion.

To prepare:

• Review the information presented in this week’s Learning Resources on systems theory and the difference between open and closed systems.
• Reflect on the practices and processes with which you are familiar in your organization. Identify one problematic issue or process that could be improved.
• Consider the problem from a closed-system perspective. Then think about how the issue or process you selected could be addressed by viewing it from an open-system perspective. How would the transition from a closed- to an open-system view help you and others to address the problem and improve outcomes?

Post (1) a description of the problem that you identified in your selected organization. (2) Explain the problem from a closed-system perspective. Then, (3) describe how the problem could be addressed by viewing it from an open-system perspective, and (4) explain how this modification would help you and others improve health care outcomes.

Readings

• Marquis, B. L., & Huston, C. J. (2015). Leadership roles and management functions in nursing: Theory and application (8th ed.). Philadelphia, PA: Lippincott, Williams & Wilkins.
  • Review Chapter 7, “Strategic and Operational Planning”

    See especially Figure 7.1 on page 147.

  • Chapter 8, “Planned Change”
    • Organizational Change Associated With Nonlinear Dynamics (pp. 172–176)

      Read this section of Chapter 8 on planned change. Consider the role of leaders in effectively managing planned change.

  • Chapter 12, “Organizational Structure”
    • “Organizational Culture” (pp. 274–276)

      There are many structures organizations take, and these structures influence how the organization functions. This chapter discusses many different organizational structures and provides insights into how these structures influence the change process, as well as leadership and management.

• Johnson, J. K., Miller, S. H., & Horowitz, S. D. (2008). Systems-based practice: Improving the safety and quality of patient care by recognizing and improving the systems in which we work. Retrieved from http://www.ahrq.gov/downloads/pub/advances2/vol2/Advances-Johnson_90.pdf

  This article addresses the importance of systems-based practice (SBP) in health care workplaces. The authors state that SBP knowledge is one of six core competencies that physicians have to know in order to provide safe and proper care for their patients.

• Manley, K., O’Keefe, H., Jackson, C., Pearce, J., & Smith, S. (2014). A shared purpose framework to deliver person-centred, safe and effective care: Organisational transformation using practice development methodology. FoNS 2014 International Practice Development Journal 4 (1) [2].

  Except from Abstract: A shared purpose is an essential part of developing effective workplace cultures and one of the founding principles of practice development in establishing person-centred, safe and effective practices that enables everyone to flourish. When units within health care organizations recognize their interdependence, they can create an interdisciplinary practice through systems integration.

• Meyer, R. M., & O’Brien-Pallas, L. L. (2010). Nursing services delivery theory: An open system approach. Journal of Advanced Nursing, 66(12), 2828–2838.

  Retrieved from the Walden Library databases.

  In this article, the authors examine the effects of nursing services delivery theory in large-scale organizations. Among other benefits, this theory supports multilevel phenomena and cross-level studies, and it can guide future research and the management of nursing services.

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