System theory exam questions
Multiple choice and open questions + answers
1. What are the main parts of the concrete system model in general
system theory?
a. Concrete system which shows behaviour, actions, effects, variables
& values, elements (the division of tasks) & relations of those
elements (in structure with the function description of those tasks).
b. Concrete system which shows behaviour, actions, effects, variables
& values, elements (HR, technology) & relations of those elements
(in structure with tasks).
c. Concrete system which shows behaviour, actions, effects, variables
& values, elements (HR, technology) & relations of those elements
(in structure with panopticons).
d. Concrete system which shows behaviour, actions, effects, variables
& values, elements (HR, technology) & the central tendencies of
those elements (in structure with tasks).
2. Which of the following statements are true?
(1)In order to select goals, you need to commit to goals that affect the
survival of the organization, which is a social activity and has
elements of experiments as well.
(2)Strategy formulation is an uncertain and risky process.
a. Statement 1 is correct, 2 is incorrect
b. Statement 1 is incorrect, 2 is correct
c. Both statements are correct
d. Both statements are incorrect
3. How would you describe the experimental arche in an organization?
4. What is regulation by control (strategic regulation), regulation by
design, and operational regulation.
a. Control/strategic: to set goals. Design: to set the structure of
regulatory actions. Operational: to operate in the experiment.
b. Control/strategic: to set goals. Design: to design the parameters for
viability. Operational: to control for disturbances.
c. Control/strategic: to set essential variables. Design: to set HR,
technology, division of tasks. Operational: regulatory actions.
, d. Control/strategic: to set essential variables. Design: to set the
infrastructural conditions. Operational: to change the norm values.
5. What is the main difference between operational regulation, strategic
regulation (regulation by control) and regulation by design?
6. What does the law on variety (Ashby) state?
7. What is the best description of ‘meaningful survival’?
a. Contributing to the survival of the organization by developing human
capacities and living a fulfilled life, while selecting, adapting and
realizing goals.
b. Contributing to the survival of the organization by developing human
capacities and living a fulfilled life, while testing hypothesis with trial
and error in order to give meaning to transformation processes.
c. Contributing to the intrinsic motivation of employees by enhancing
the regulatory potential of the different departments of the
organization.
d. Contributing to the intrinsic motivation of employees by applying the
functional principles of VSM.
8. Which of the following statements are true?
(1)Infrastructural conditions are needed for meaningful survival.
(2)Meaningful survival is a contingent and uncertain process.
a. Statement 1 is correct, 2 is incorrect
b. Statement 1 is incorrect, 2 is correct
c. Both statements are correct
d. Both statements are incorrect
9. How does regulation NOT directly relate to communication?
a. Through decisions that are based on decisions
b. Through expectations about expectations
c. Through the infrastructure of the organization
d. Through the amplification of VSM
10. What is the aim of cybernetics (Ashby)?
, 11. What is this an example of?
a. Closed and single valued transformation
b. Closed and multi valued transformation
c. Open and single valued transformation
d. Open and multi valued transformation
12. On a Monday afternoon, Lucas finds a suitcase at the metro station.
He is curious and decides to bring the suitcase home to see if there is
money inside. Because he don’t know the combination of the lock, he
uses trial and error to open the suitcase. What is this an example of?
a. The black-box method by Ashby
b. The decision premises by Luhmann
c. The viable system method by Beer
d. The specific design principle by de Sitter
13. Describe ‘organizations’
14. How can you identify regularity? Choose the correct order
a. Define the system – select a purpose – establish regularities –
conditional transformation – record behaviour of the black box
b. Define the system – select a purpose - conditional transformation –
establish regularities – record behaviour of the black box
c. Select a purpose – define the system – record behaviour of the black
box – conditional transformation – establish regularities
d. Select a purpose – define the system – establish regularities –
conditional transformation – record behaviour of the black box
15. Describe effective regulation where outcome is a ‘perfect’ regulation
16. How can regulations be changes to improve its regulating effect?
What law can be applied?
17. What type of transformation table is this?
Multiple choice and open questions + answers
1. What are the main parts of the concrete system model in general
system theory?
a. Concrete system which shows behaviour, actions, effects, variables
& values, elements (the division of tasks) & relations of those
elements (in structure with the function description of those tasks).
b. Concrete system which shows behaviour, actions, effects, variables
& values, elements (HR, technology) & relations of those elements
(in structure with tasks).
c. Concrete system which shows behaviour, actions, effects, variables
& values, elements (HR, technology) & relations of those elements
(in structure with panopticons).
d. Concrete system which shows behaviour, actions, effects, variables
& values, elements (HR, technology) & the central tendencies of
those elements (in structure with tasks).
2. Which of the following statements are true?
(1)In order to select goals, you need to commit to goals that affect the
survival of the organization, which is a social activity and has
elements of experiments as well.
(2)Strategy formulation is an uncertain and risky process.
a. Statement 1 is correct, 2 is incorrect
b. Statement 1 is incorrect, 2 is correct
c. Both statements are correct
d. Both statements are incorrect
3. How would you describe the experimental arche in an organization?
4. What is regulation by control (strategic regulation), regulation by
design, and operational regulation.
a. Control/strategic: to set goals. Design: to set the structure of
regulatory actions. Operational: to operate in the experiment.
b. Control/strategic: to set goals. Design: to design the parameters for
viability. Operational: to control for disturbances.
c. Control/strategic: to set essential variables. Design: to set HR,
technology, division of tasks. Operational: regulatory actions.
, d. Control/strategic: to set essential variables. Design: to set the
infrastructural conditions. Operational: to change the norm values.
5. What is the main difference between operational regulation, strategic
regulation (regulation by control) and regulation by design?
6. What does the law on variety (Ashby) state?
7. What is the best description of ‘meaningful survival’?
a. Contributing to the survival of the organization by developing human
capacities and living a fulfilled life, while selecting, adapting and
realizing goals.
b. Contributing to the survival of the organization by developing human
capacities and living a fulfilled life, while testing hypothesis with trial
and error in order to give meaning to transformation processes.
c. Contributing to the intrinsic motivation of employees by enhancing
the regulatory potential of the different departments of the
organization.
d. Contributing to the intrinsic motivation of employees by applying the
functional principles of VSM.
8. Which of the following statements are true?
(1)Infrastructural conditions are needed for meaningful survival.
(2)Meaningful survival is a contingent and uncertain process.
a. Statement 1 is correct, 2 is incorrect
b. Statement 1 is incorrect, 2 is correct
c. Both statements are correct
d. Both statements are incorrect
9. How does regulation NOT directly relate to communication?
a. Through decisions that are based on decisions
b. Through expectations about expectations
c. Through the infrastructure of the organization
d. Through the amplification of VSM
10. What is the aim of cybernetics (Ashby)?
, 11. What is this an example of?
a. Closed and single valued transformation
b. Closed and multi valued transformation
c. Open and single valued transformation
d. Open and multi valued transformation
12. On a Monday afternoon, Lucas finds a suitcase at the metro station.
He is curious and decides to bring the suitcase home to see if there is
money inside. Because he don’t know the combination of the lock, he
uses trial and error to open the suitcase. What is this an example of?
a. The black-box method by Ashby
b. The decision premises by Luhmann
c. The viable system method by Beer
d. The specific design principle by de Sitter
13. Describe ‘organizations’
14. How can you identify regularity? Choose the correct order
a. Define the system – select a purpose – establish regularities –
conditional transformation – record behaviour of the black box
b. Define the system – select a purpose - conditional transformation –
establish regularities – record behaviour of the black box
c. Select a purpose – define the system – record behaviour of the black
box – conditional transformation – establish regularities
d. Select a purpose – define the system – establish regularities –
conditional transformation – record behaviour of the black box
15. Describe effective regulation where outcome is a ‘perfect’ regulation
16. How can regulations be changes to improve its regulating effect?
What law can be applied?
17. What type of transformation table is this?
