and the benefits that it provides to managers is emphasized.
Understanding Management from a Systems Perspective
Managers were once largely concerned only with the events and personnel within their own organization. Until this century, managers had little interference from outside agencies, particularly the government, and were largely able to set their own rules and determine the best way for their organizations to run. In the twentieth century, however, a number of factors came into being which greatly complicated life for American managers. These factors included labor unions, which brought increased pressure from workers, and government agencies, which brought increased pressure from oversight organizations. In the latter part of the twentieth centuries, consumer groups have also begun to be a formidable power in the marketplace, with the result that managers must now consider how their products and processes affect consumers and the environment. Today's managers are besieged by regulations, guidelines, conflicting needs of the organization and the need to balance all of these issues against the fundamental need to make a profit. The result is that managers must have a much broader understanding of their work environment and the environment in which their business operates, a situation which nearly requires a systems approach to management rather than an isolated approach to organizations ("The Philosopher's," 1999, p. 21).
Much attention has recently been given to the role that entrepreneurs play in the American market. These self-starting individuals are characterized by high levels of creativity, and a desire to run their own organizations. An entrepreneur must be self-motivated and familiar with all aspects of business. The successful entrepreneur is not only well versed in the technical aspect of what he is selling, and proficient in that aspect, but he must also be familiar with the market, able to market hi...