AVIA 4000, Special Projects: Human Factors in Aviation

Unit 1

Systems Theory (View the Systems Theory Presentation on YouTube [in Week 1 folder];

Read the Systems Theory Article from Wikipedia [in Week 1 folder]; review the

PowerPoint Presentation: Systems Theory)

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Unit Objectives:

Upon completion of this unit of instruction the student will be able to demonstrate the following:

1. Explain Ludwig von Bertalanffy’s notion of a general systems theory

2. Define the term “system”

3. Enumerate and explain the six major characteristics of systems

4. Enumerate and explain the five major elements of systems

5. Appraise the adequacy of a system to produce its intended outcome(s)

Assignments:

1. View the Systems Theory presentation on YouTube (link in Week 1 folder).

2. Read the Systems Theory article from Wikipedia (located in the Week 1 folder). [Note: I

usually do NOT use or condone the use of Wikipedia for scholarly purposes, but this just

happens to be a very good article, and it serves our purposes just fine.]

3. As a review, look at the PowerPoint presentation Systems Theory (in the Week 1 folder).

4. Be prepared to submit answers—either on Blackboard or as a separate assignment—to

specific questions based upon the unit objectives listed above.