How do we use “open systems theory” as a way of looking at orchestra organizations?
According to open systems theory, orchestra organizations interact with their environments in a complex series of interrelated loops (see Kerres below). Like individual organisms, their success depends on how well their characteristics and behavior align with their environment (see Spich and Sylvester below). In our next installment, we will use some classic open systems concepts to help understand the challenges (and opportunities) symphony orchestra organizations face, especially as they identify possible directions for change.
