Final answer:
The open systems view of organizations implies that they are designed as complex adaptive systems, constantly interacting with their environment, exchanging energy and mass, and adjusting to maintain a dynamic steady state.
Step-by-step explanation:
The open systems view of organizations suggests that they are designed like complex adaptive systems that interact with and adapt to their environments. Open systems are characterized by their ability to exchange energy and mass with their surroundings, and they do not reach equilibrium—instead, they achieve a steady state where the energy input rate is equal to the output rate. Changes can occur in this steady state, enabling the organization to evolve and respond to external and internal pressures. This conceptual framework reflects real-world connections where organizations, similar to biological organisms, are involved in a constant exchange with their environment, adjusting their processes and structures in response to change.
In an organizational context, bureaucracies can be seen as formal organizations that may evolve towards being open systems, which is significant in the fields of business and management. By understanding the properties of open systems, managers and organizational designers can better equip their enterprises to adapt to the changing economic and social landscapes, like the complex biological systems that have evolved over millions of years.