The United States health care system can be considered in terms of systems theory. The organizations which comprise this system include different types of hospitals. Nurses are also a vital system component. They can influence system functioning. United States health care is currently undergoing tremendous change. With the introduction of managed competition, hospitals must make more efficient use of their resources. Change theory may be used to describe these processes. Through effective leadership and decision making, nurses can manage change and influence its ultimate outcome.
The health care system in the United States can be described in terms of systems thinking. Systems concepts are an important aspect of organization and management theory. The thinking attempts to recognize patterns of behavior or problems that repeat themselves regardless of the setting (Tonges & Madden, 1993, pp. 39-44).
It was Chester Barnard (cited in Kast & Rosenzweig, n.g., pp. 60-71) who used a basic systems framework to define the term, organization (Kast & Rosenzweig, n.g., pp. 60-71). According to his definition, an organization is "a system of consciously coordinated activities or forces of two or more persons" (Kreitner & Kinicki, 1992, pp. 633-657). Hence, a system may consist of "physical, biological, personal, and social components" (Kast & Rosenzweig, n.g., pp. 60-71). These different aspects, however, must be in a "specific systematic relationship" for the purpose of accomplishing "at least one definite end" (Kast & Rosenzweig, n.g., pp. 60-71). Such systems may be subordinate to larger systems. Conversely, they may also contain subsidiary systems.
In general, all organizations have the following four common characteristics: (1) coordination of effort; (2) a common goal; (3) division of labor; and (4) a hierarchy of authority. Coordination of effort is typically achieved through the creation and enforcement of...