Balanced Changes in Social & Technical Systems

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Balanced Changes in Social and Technical Systems The word “overload”, by definition, equates to “too much”. So, when we use the term “information overload”, naturally we are referring to having too much information. Typically, information can be the key factor that separates a successful organization from a failure. Generally, technical systems along with social systems are designed to produce information. So how can we fault them for succeeding? After all, information is what we are asking our systems to produce. It seems to me that the best way to overcome information overload is to adapt social systems as technical systems advance. The need for businesses to adapt should not be understated. “Markets and demands of customers are changing rapidly therefore you can’t remain aware with market trends if you are not spending on Research and Development, because research is only the way through which you can update yourself on the latest market trends” (Welkinson, 2011). It cannot be ignored that stagnating companies will be outperformed and eventually overcome by companies that provide what evolving demands consumers develop. This point can be proven by examining successful businesses who utilized this approach and how it helped them to overcome information overload. I intend to do just that. However, I will also highlight a failure that stemmed from a narrow concentration focusing on technical systems while ignoring the importance of evolving social systems. When an advanced technical system is developed and there exists no ability to use it, then we get information overload. There is simply more there that can be processed. But to begin, we must first focus on some key ways technical systems change and how social systems must follow suit. Every organization uses a vast assortment of technical systems used to complete processes. The most obvious
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