Creating Products as Open Systems

Organizations transform raw materials into sellable products and services and operate as open systems. As open systems, they are affected by, and affect, their environments. In this activity you will consider different organizations, their products, and the inputs used in making those products.

Part of the way in which organizations are affected by and affect their environments is through their inputs and outputs. Organizations transform inputs such as raw materials and services into marketable products and services. Other types of inputs could include services, equipment, capital, and even information. Once these inputs are gathered and obtained by the organization, a variety of processes and procedures transforms these inputs into products and services from which consumers benefit. These products and services are referred to as the outputs of an organization.

The goal of this activity is to demonstrate the development of open systems.

This activity is important because, as a manager, you will need to understand the processes and procedures that transform inputs into products and services from which consumers benefit.

Match each output with the organization that provides it.

Input Accounting Majors Organization Trees Oats General Mills Beauty School Graduates Chevron Rubber Kimberly Clark Oats Ernst & Young Great Clips Oil Goodyear