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Niklas Luhmann's
Theory Of Social Systems -
An Introduction
[2] - Communication
Schedule
- About Luhmann and his work (5')
- Getting to better know each other (10')
- Recap and introducing the topic (15')
- Short task in Miro (5')
- Deeper dive into the topic (10')
- Last task in Miro (10')
- Wrap-up and goodbye (5')
Why Luhmann?
A good theory explains all perceived phenomena
It stipulates a radically different way of thinking
It reflects "reality" in its labyrintic, connected approach and acknowledges society's complexity
In the end it may help to get to the bottom of things
Some words from my heart
Luhmann's way of thinking is quite revolutionary and his ideas often couterintuitive, so be patient with yourself ;-)
These are just ideas/thoughts, take what resonates, also it's just my understanding of a huge and complex work
Systems theory does not give practical implementation tips, it's up to you to make something out of it
(before we start)
Niklas Luhmann (1927 - 1998)
Born in 1927 in Lüneburg, northern Germany
Worked in public administration for several years
Learned about Talcott Parsons' "The social system", "Toward a General Theory of Action" at Harvard in 1966
Heavily influnced by Humberto Maturana ("autopoiesis") and George Spencer-Brown ("Laws of form")
1968 profesor at Bielefeld University. "Topic: Theory of society; lifespan: 30 years; costs: none."
Bibliography counts more then 2.000 items
Part [2]: Communication
Recap: psychic systems
psychic
system
border
created autopoiesis (communication with itself=thought)
created by the difference of system and environment
environment
Recap: social systems
Communication: A Definition
"If one understands communication as a synthesis of three selections, as a unity of information, utterance and understanding, then communication is realised when and insofar as understanding comes about." (Niklas Luhmann)
Communication is the distinction/difference between utterance and information at the moment of understanding.
Communication is the smallest component, the "last/final element", the atom of social systems.
Communication: An Example
Mother to son: "It will be hot today."
Son: does not realize mother is talking to him. Communication did not realize.
Son: "Yeah, yeah". No difference between information and understanding.
Son: "Ok, I will dress accordingly". Communication realized through difference of information and understanding ("Mother told me this, so I can dress accordingly").
The three parts of communication
Information: the difference between what has been said and what has not been said, an autonomous decision by Ego
Understanding: actualizing the difference between utterance and information.
Utterance: Alters selection to say something (difference say/not say and difference what has been said /what has not been said)
Properties of communication I
The parts of communication (utterance, information, understanding) can be observed from the outside, they are undistictible connected in the operation itself.
Through communication a social system opens up to the environment, by communicating/observing it.
Communication constitutes social systems.
Communication cannot be repeated.
Communication happens instantly, it has no duration. It happen, when the unity of utterance, information and understanding is realized.
Properties of communication II
Communication needs a physical medium/substrat to "materialize", i.e. air/sound, paper/ink etc.
Communication cannot happen without sense, sense is the inner medium that constitutes both physic systems (through thought) and social system (through communication).
Communication needs a memory to connect communication.
Practical implications
- Feedback loops
- Reversing Alter and Ego
- Make communication repeatable
- Have observers to analyse communication
- Make your company speak/communicate for certain tasks (i.e. through Kanban)
- ...
Thank you and think systems!
stefan@strukturmeister.de
Sytems Theory: [2] Communication
By stefan
