Social Systems Theory as Theoretical Framework for Human Resource Management ? Benediction or Curse? Introduction to the Special Issue

Wolfgang Mayrhofer ()
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Wolfgang Mayrhofer: Vienna University of Economics and Business Administration (WU Wien), Interdisciplinary Department of Management and Organisational Behaviour

management revue. Socio-economic Studies, 2004, vol. 15, issue 2, 178-191

Abstract: Social systems theory as developed by Niklas Luhmann is an option for the theoretical foundation of Human Resource Management (HRM). After clarifying the advantages of using a grand (social) theory as the basic theoretical perspective, the roots of this social systems theory ? the deterministic view of systems as machines, the open systems approach and non-linear systems theory ? are addressed. Based on the view of social systems as autopoietically closed systems, five major contributions to a theoretical foundation of HRM are identified: (1) the conceptualisation of organising and managing human resources as social processes, thus overcoming an individualistic angle; (2) the new importance of individuals as essential element in the system?s environment; (3) the abstention form far reaching or highly unrealistic assumptions about the ?nature? of human beings; (4) the interaction between various levels and units of analysis built into the theory which is essential for comprehensive and in-depth analyses of HR phenomena and (5) the openness for additional theories for which social systems theory provides the overall framework.

Keywords: Systems Theory; Human Resource Management; Organisation Theory (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: F23 J53 M10 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2004
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