System or Man?

Systems are organized frameworks, rules, laws, processes, procedures, or technologies designed to achieve defined and specific goals.

Some of the strengths of systems can be, stability, scalability, productivity, and accountability.

Regarding the stability of systems, it can be said that systems operate without emotions or biases and this brings uniformity, which while systems operate can bring development, but as systems fall, uniformity becomes an obstacle.

Regarding scalability, it can be said that systems to handle more volume and complexity of activities, including work, need to be scaled in all directions, as long as the volume and complexity do not compromise the system.

Regarding productivity, it can be said that systems are efficient and effective in all those activities for the realization of which it is required to fulfill repetitive tasks, because these tasks can be automated and this brings a reduction in the human workload.

Regarding responsibility, it can be said that systems operate on the basis of certain standards, laws, procedures, processes, rules, metrics and a defined performance. If these standards, laws, procedures, processes, rules, metrics and a defined performance are not respected and / or missing, the system starts and falls.

Some of the weak points of systems are rigidity, indeterminacy and dependence on design or engineering.

Regarding the rigidity of systems, it can be said that it is precisely this rigidity that makes the system adapt and operate functionally and productively only in unique and preconditioned situations. When situations change and are not preconditioned, systems do not work.

Regarding indeterminacy, it can be said that this is what makes systems not sensitive and this happens because systems lack intuition.

Regarding design dependency, it can be said that poorly designed and poorly designed systems will not function for a long time.

Regarding humans, it can be said that in any system, in one way or another, they are always involved in decision-making, problem solving and interpersonal tasks.

Human strengths are adaptability, empathy, creativity and judgment.

Regarding adaptability, it can be said that people adapt quickly to changing circumstances or new challenges.

Regarding empathy, it can be said that people are generally able to understand emotions, context and complex dynamics of political, economic and social life.

Regarding creativity, people generate innovative ideas or solutions even beyond the predefined rules.

Regarding judgment, it can be said that people are able to judge based on the balance of factors, achieving an understanding of the nuances of these factors.

Among the human weaknesses we list inconsistency, capacity limitations and escalation.

Regarding inconsistency, it can be said that man often thinks differently than he acts, creating contradictions between his goals and behaviors.

Regarding capacity limitations, it can be said that the human mind has limits in processing information, which can lead to hasty decisions or logical errors.

Regarding escalation, it can be said that emotions or conflicts can grow uncontrollably, making it difficult to maintain calm and reason.

Looking carefully at these characteristics of systems and humans, it can be said that:

Systems can have advantages in those cases when:

1. Tasks are rule-based and repetitive.

2. Efficiency and sustainability are required.

3. It is necessary to automate processes or operate on a large scale.

4. The decisions that need to be made do not require complex social or emotional input.

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People may have an advantage when:

1. Situations are complex, unpredictable, or unique.

2. Emotional intelligence and relationship building are critical.

3. Creativity and innovation are needed.

4. Contextual judgment is required.

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So, a logical mix of systems and people would be a better solution. This is actually the best approach, a combination of the best properties of humans and systems, in order to use the system for structure, efficiency and scalability and humans for supervision, human control and creativity.

In all variants of human-system combinations, the aim is (1) adaptability (evolution with changing situations and needs), (2) efficiency (sustainable and effective results), (3) development (growth without compromising performance), (4) transparency (implementation of clear rules and real accountability) and (5) user-friendliness (when the system and humans find it easy to understand and interact).

In general, systems are ultimately the same in the fact that they aim to be sustainable, regardless of how much they manage to be so over time, while humans, not all are the same. At this point we want to know who the “best people” are. And ultimately, the “best people” are those who manage to balance their individual performance with the contributions that others demand from the individual and for this, skills, knowledge and competencies are required.

In general, in cases where innovation, judgment and emotion are required, it is people who come first and after them the systems, because it is people who have built the systems, which are intended to serve people. People, in turn, make efforts to adapt the systems to meet their needs, which change due to developmental processes. Without human supervision, systems can become obsolete and become worthless, and in this respect human values such as empathy, creativity, moral judgment, etc., are values that are not carried by systems, but by people.

In cases where standardization and automation are required and where efficiency, fairness and scalability are critical, systems take precedence, because they are systems that provide frameworks and rules by which people are guided, ensuring consistency and efficiency, because they are systems that enable tasks beyond individual human capacity. But in this case one of the most important characteristics of systems is neutrality. Well-designed systems reduce the biases and errors that arise from human decision-making. These are systems that have a long life, preserving processes, knowledge and values even as time passes.

But, however, in all cases, the best results come when people and systems complement each other. People define the goals and values that systems should support, and systems provide the tools and structure to help people work effectively.

Ultimately, it can be said that in design and strategy, people come first and systems are built around human needs and goals, while in execution and operational aspects, systems come first, because they provide consistency, efficiency, and structure, leaving people the opportunity to intervene for decision-making, problem-solving, and unique cases, which are part of the superstructure.

Ultimately, people come first and systems come second, because while systems are essential for scaling and organizing human endeavors, they ultimately exist to serve people, creating the conditions for people to increase their skills, knowledge, and competencies, to fulfill their goals, reflecting their values, in perpetuity.