Behavioral systems analysis (BSA), or performance systems analysis, applies
behavior analysis and
systems analysis
Systems analysis is "the process of studying a procedure or business to identify its goal and purposes and create systems and procedures that will efficiently achieve them". Another view sees systems analysis as a problem-solving technique that ...
to human performance in organizations.
BSA is directly related to
performance management
Business performance management (BPM) (also known as corporate performance management (CPM) enterprise performance management (EPM),) is a management approach which encompasses a set of processes and analytical tools to ensure that a business o ...
and
organizational behavior management.
Description
Behavioral systems analysis is an approach to organizational design and management. It is based on the premise that organizations are
complex systems
A complex system is a system composed of many components that may interact with one another. Examples of complex systems are Earth's global climate, organisms, the human brain, infrastructure such as power grid, transportation or communication s ...
. As such, changes in one aspect of performance in an organization necessarily affects performance in another parts of an organization. A primary goal of BSA is to create a balanced applications in which areas of poor performance are improved, areas of high performance are maintained, and employee performance outcomes are directed towards organizational goals. This is done through the careful use of behavioral and systems theories, and the application of research based principles of behavior, such as
reinforcement
In Behaviorism, behavioral psychology, reinforcement refers to consequences that increase the likelihood of an organism's future behavior, typically in the presence of a particular ''Antecedent (behavioral psychology), antecedent stimulus''. Fo ...
,
punishment
Punishment, commonly, is the imposition of an undesirable or unpleasant outcome upon an individual or group, meted out by an authority—in contexts ranging from child discipline to criminal law—as a deterrent to a particular action or beh ...
,
stimulus control
In behavioral psychology, stimulus control is a phenomenon in operant conditioning that occurs when an organism behaves in one way in the presence of a given Stimulus (psychology), stimulus and another way in its absence. A stimulus that modifies b ...
, discrimination and
generalization
A generalization is a form of abstraction whereby common properties of specific instances are formulated as general concepts or claims. Generalizations posit the existence of a domain or set of elements, as well as one or more common characteri ...
.
[{{cite journal, title=A Behavioral Systems Analysis of Behavior Analysis as a Scientific System, journal=Journal of Organizational Behavior Management, doi=10.1080/01608060903092169, year=2009, volume=29, issue=3–4, pages=315–332, author1=Hayes, Linda J., author2=Dubuque, Erick M., author3=Fryling, Mitch J., author4=Pritchard, Joshua K., s2cid=144933443 ]
History
It began in the late 50s through the 60s by combining behavior analysis and general systems theory to better understand human and organizational performance.
Process
Analyze, Specify, Design, Intervene, Evaluate, Recycle or ASDIER.
Tools
Here is a list of some the tools and the last name of the author next to them:
* Behavioral Systems Engineering Model – M. Malott-2003
* Total Performance System – Brethower-1982
* Super System/Relationship Map – Rummler-1995
* Is/Should Process Maps/Task Analysis – Rummler, M. Malott
* ABC (PIC/NIC) Analysis – Daniels
* Behavior Engineering Model/6boxes/Performance Diagnostic Checklist – Gilbert, Binder, Austin-2000
* Human Performance System – Rummler
* Performance Planned and Managed System/Interlocking Contingencies at Various Management Levels/Cultural Change Model – Rummler, M. Malott, R. Malott
Additional information
Here are some studies that employed BSA:
* Huberman & O'Brien (1999)
* Sulzer-Azaroff, Loafman, Merante & Hlavacek (1990)
* Sulzer-Azaroff, Pollack & Fleming (1992)
* Williams & Cummings (2001)
* Williams, Di Vittorio, & Hausherr (2002)
References
Organizational behavior
Organizational performance management