Management and Policy Making
Ehsan Karami; Ali Yassini
Abstract
The Strategic Management of Information Systems book deals with the strategic management of information systems as a complete set for the organization. The purpose of this article, which has been done in a descriptive-analytical method, is to find the strengths and weaknesses of this work. Accordingly, ...
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The Strategic Management of Information Systems book deals with the strategic management of information systems as a complete set for the organization. The purpose of this article, which has been done in a descriptive-analytical method, is to find the strengths and weaknesses of this work. Accordingly, the book has been studied first and then analyzed from three perspectives: content, writing, and form-structure. The book is written as a resource for students of management and especially technology management. According to the author, the work has some goals such as helping and guiding managers to adopt appropriate strategies for managing information systems in organizations, clarifying the various dimensions of information systems and reviewing the most important theories and the most prominent perceptions of information systems management. However, based on the results of the present critique, it seems that the author has not achieved the desired goals in a desirable way. Due to the fact that the book does not have an editor, the work has defective linguistic rules and misuse of writing symbols. From the formal and structural point of view, the chapters of the book lack introduction, goals, and conclusions, or summaries, which confuse the reader. From the content point of view, the topics of the book lack the necessary coherence and accuracy. Some of the general topics and concepts are covered in the book, and there is no balance between the descriptions of some of the proposed topics.
Sociology
Seyed Mohammad Sadegh Mahdavi; Danial Bagheri
Abstract
Niklas Luhmann is the most prominent system theorist. System theory took shape with Talcott Parsons ideas in sociology. The starting point of Luhmann’s system theory has been influenced by Parsons, proposing an integrated approach combining elements of Parsons structural functionalism and general ...
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Niklas Luhmann is the most prominent system theorist. System theory took shape with Talcott Parsons ideas in sociology. The starting point of Luhmann’s system theory has been influenced by Parsons, proposing an integrated approach combining elements of Parsons structural functionalism and general systems theory and some concepts of cognitive biology, cybernetics, and phenomenology. Luhmann has introduced himself as the most prominent system theorist. Two main concepts in understanding the theory of Luhmann are system and environment. The key to understand Luhmann’s system theory has been hidden in the differentiation of system from its environment. One of the most basic roles of a system is to reduce the complexity of the environment. Systems produce their basic elements, regulate the borders and the relations in their structures, and are closed and self-referential. The present paper aims to analyze the system theory from the main concepts of Luhmann and to explain and criticize each of these concepts in Luhmann’s intellectual system.