Traditional theories considered organizations autonomous and isolated from the outside world and failed to take into account many environmental influences that affect their efficiency. “The term Open Systems reflects the newfound belief that all organizations are unique partly because of the environment in which they operate and partly because they should be structured to adapt to unique problems and opportunities” (Inc.com, 2014). Hanna (1997) similarly describes an open system as a combination of parts (or elements) with interdependent relationships and open interactions with the external environment (p. 13). Furthermore, it describes the interactions of these elements as dynamic and fundamental systemic processes (Hanna, 1997). Using the attributes of Open System Theory, I will apply them to my current workplace, Figtree High School (FHS), specifically the Flametree Complex (FC) and the Sydney Distance Education High School (SDEHS) program used by the school.Ludwig von Bertalanffy, biologist, was the first to formulate the principles of general systems theory (French & Bell, 1999). According to its definition, a system is a "set of interacting elements" or "a complex of interacting elements" (BCSSS, 2014). Webster defines a system as a “group of elements that regularly interact or are interdependent and form a unified whole,” which “is in equilibrium or tends to be in equilibrium” (Bernard, 1990). The literature provides various definitions of 'system', however, overall the concept of system indicates interdependence, interconnection and interrelationship between its parts within a whole (French & Bell, 1999). The Open System model 'conceives of an organization as a combination of parts with independent and op...... middle of paper ......s%20Schooling%20V1%20N1%202010.pdfNadler, DA, Hatvany, N. G., & Nina, G. H. (1980). Frameworks for organizational behaviorManaging Organizations: Little Brown. Retrieved from http://www.cumc.columbia.edu/dept/pi/ppf/Congruence-Model.pdf.Scott, W.R. (1992). Organizations: rational, natural and open systems. London: Prentice-Hall International. Sundarasaradula, D., & Hasan, H. (2004). Open systems and organizational theories: A unified open systems model for explaining organizational change. Retrieved March 28, 2014, from http://press.anu.edu.au//info_systems/mobile_devices/ch11s03.htmlThien, L.M., & Razak, N.A. (2012). A proposed framework of school organization from open system and multilevel organization theories. World Journal of Applied Sciences, 20(6), 889 - 899. http://citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/viewdoc/download?doi=10.1.1.388.2558&rep=rep1&type=pdf