System Thinking Term Paper

System Issues & Chikfila Systems thinking is a way of synthesizing the issues surrounding any organization in both a macro and micro manner. This allows more shared values through teamwork, mental paradigms, the ability to think in the future, and look at projects in a way that are best for the organization as a holistic entity. Thus, when the process of inquiry is moved from the individual and rote (only knowledge) to an organization that moves through different, more analytical modes of thinking, the individual involved are more active participants and there is a shared vision alone with a personal and team mastery of the question in point. This evolution engenders personal buy-in, a feeling of empowerment, and clearly a new way of processing disparate information (Senge, 2006).

Chick-Fil -- A is an American fast food restaurant chain specializing in Chicken Sandwiches. Their headquarters are in Atlanta, Georgia, and have approximately 1600 locations with 2011 revenues approaching $4 billion. The company's culture is strongly influenced by its founder's conservative Southern Baptist beliefs. The restaurants, for instance, are closed for business on Sunday. The company made national news when its COO, Dan Cathy, made public statements in June and July 2012 supporting the traditional...

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This resulted in a public relations nightmare in which a number of prominent politicians indicated they would block franchise requests from the chain, the Jim Henson Company pulled its business relationship, and Arkansas' Governor Mike Huckabee initiated a Chick-Fil -- A Appreciation Day to counter a boycott from same sex marriage activists (Chick Fila Controversy, 2013).
The company defends its values, but has made over $5 million in donations to groups opposing same-sex marriage. To attempt to balance out the controversy, the restaurant issued a statement on July 31, 2012: "We are a restaurant company focused on food, service and hospti8ality; our intent is to leave the policy debate over same-sex marriage to the government and political arena" (Chick-fil-a, 2013).

In general, there are two types of systems theory that fit an organizational model. An open model is a two way communication model that allows for continual and evolving feedback; and a closed system is a one-way system that does not seek other information or feedback, but intends to promulgate a point. From a systems perspective, the controversy was expanded and the story told primarily from supporters and protestors. Even the large Support Day…

Sources Used in Documents:

Works Cited and Consulted

Chick Fil -- a Controversy. (2013). The Huffington Post. Retrieved from: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/news/chick-fil-a-controversy

Chick-Fil-a. (2013). Press Releases. Retrieved from: http://www.chick-fil-a.com/Pressroom/Press-Releases#?release=LGBT-statement

Chick-Fil-a. (2010). Corporate Message. Retrieved from: http://www.chick-fil-a.com

Nunziato, M. (June 2013). PR in Practice: Chick-fil-A. Retrieved from:
http://blogs.uoregon.edu/j350chickfilaantigay/2013/06/10/michaelnunziato/
Sirmons, J. (2012). Using Systems Theory to Understand Chaos. Retrieved from: http://jasonsirmoncapstoneproject.wordpress.com/2012/02/19/using-systems-theory-to-understand-chaos/


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