View/Open - University of Zululand Institutional Repository

esponsibilities in positions they occupy. Role involves a relationship of two or more
persons who are interacting for a purpose in a particular situation. Interacting with other
people help one to attain the skills, knowledge and value of other persons" thereby
enabling one to identify goals and assist with goal attainment.
Stress results from open systems as they continuously interact with the environment. It
depends on the coping mechanism of the individual as the intensity of the stress varies.
Stress is dynamic and is influenced by past experiences. It is individualized and personal
as individuals respond uniquely to life events. George (1995:215) defines stress
according to King (1990:96) as a dynamic state whereby a human being interacts with the
environment to maintain balance for growth, development and performance, which
involves an exchange ofenergy and information between the person and the environment
for regulation and control ofstressors.
3.3.3 SOCIAL SYSTEMS
George (1995:215) cites King's definition of social systems as an organized boundary
system of roles, behaviours and practices developed to maintain values and the
mechanisms to regulate the practices and rules. The concepts that are ofgreat importance
in this social system are organization, authority, power, status, decision-making, control
and all other concepts mentioned under personal systems and interpersonal systems.
Organization as the major concept consist of five parameters, namely, human values,
behaviour patterns. needs, goals and expectations; a natural environment in which
material and human resources are essential for meeting goals and expectations;
employers and employees, parents and children, who form the groups that collectively
interact to achieve goals and technology that facilitates goal attainment.
Authority is the structure that is observable through provisions of order, guidance and
responsibility for actions; essential for formal organizations, requires cooperation
essential to goal attainment and is associated with power. It is descnbed as an active,
23