Association of Social Work Boards Masters (ASWB MSW) Practice Exam

What does the systems approach consider an organization to be?

1. A set of independent subsystems

2. A collection of unrelated components

3. A system composed of interrelated subsystems

4. A static structure with unchanging components

The correct answer is: A system composed of interrelated subsystems

The systems approach considers an organization to be a system composed of interrelated subsystems because it recognizes that all parts of an organization are connected and dependent on each other in order to function effectively. Option A is incorrect because it suggests that each subsystem operates independently, which is not the case in a systems approach. Option B is incorrect because it implies that the components of an organization have no connection or impact on each other, which is also not true in a systems approach. Option D is incorrect because it overlooks the dynamic nature of organizations and how they are constantly evolving and adapting to changing environments, rather than remaining static structures with unchanging components.