The systems. viewpoint sees organizations as a system$-$either open or closed$-$with inputs, outputs, transformational processes, and feedback. In other words, the systems viewpoint regards the organization as a system of interrelated parts or a collection of subsystems that operate together to achieve a common purpose. This activity is important because by adopting this point of view, you can look at your organization both as $(1)$ a collection of subsystems, and $(2)$ a part of the larger environment.

The goal of this activity is to challenge your knowledge of the four parts of a system.

Read the case below and complete the exercise as instructed.

Sam owns and operates Floating Away, a beach concession business. She has five rental wagons located along a seven$-$mile stretch of a vacation beach. Each wagon rents floats, boogie boards, umbrellas, and lounge chairs by the hour or by the day. Customers walk to the wagon to inquire about rates and usually rent the items immediately. Sam prides herself on the way her employees interact with her customers in order to help make their vacation experience the most enjoyable and convenient it can be$.$ For example, if someone rents an umbrella for the day, the wagon worker follows the customer to his or her desired location and sets it up$.$ And at the end of the day, the worker retrieves the umbrella. Customers have appeared to be very satisfied with this arrangement, as evidenced by the profitability enjoyed by Sam's business for the past several years. This year, however, a new competitor, J J$\text{'}$s Floats, has opened up close to one of her wagons and has seriously impacted the profitability of that wagon. Sam realized that she needed to find a way to innovate and improve her offerings or run the risk of losing even more business to her competitor. Sam decided to survey her current customers to learn what her employees could do to make their rental experience even better. Using the customer comments they received, Sam and her employees worked toqether to develop a plan of action. They came up with several improvements based on

Read each statement pertaining to the case. Then, select the part of a system that the statement best represents.

Floats, boogie boards, umbrellas, and lounge chairs

$($Click to select$)$

Customers' great vacation experiences

$($Click to select

Customers approach the rental wagon to inquire about rates and rent the items

Employees' helpful and friendly attitudes

Asking current customers what would make their rental experience better