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 system analysis as a problem-solving technique tha ...
to human performance in organizations.
BSA is directly related to
performance management
Performance management (PM) is the process of ensuring that a set of activities and outputs meets an organization's goals in an effective and efficient manner. Performance management can focus on the performance of a whole organization, a d ...
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. 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 behavioral psychology, reinforcement is a consequence applied that will strengthen an organism's future behavior whenever that behavior is preceded by a specific antecedent stimulus. This strengthening effect may be measured as a higher fr ...
,
punishment
Punishment, commonly, is the imposition of an undesirable or unpleasant outcome upon a group or individual, meted out by an authority—in contexts ranging from child discipline to criminal law—as a response and deterrent to a particular a ...
,
stimulus control
In behavioral psychology (or applied behavior analysis), stimulus control is a phenomenon in operant conditioning (also called contingency management) that occurs when an organism behaves in one way in the presence of a given stimulus and anothe ...
, 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 character ...
.
[{{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