Functionalism Case

Functionalism

Functionalism can be described as human behavior driven by their efforts to conform to the moral code of society. In order for a society to survive, the subsystems must function in ways that promote the maintenance of society as a whole. Functionalism can refer to the effective way subsystems in a society are functioning in a similar way to person's organs function to maintain a healthy body. Structural functionalism looks at both social structure and social functions. Functionalism addresses society as a whole in terms of the function of its constituent elements.

Functionalism is criticized in several aspects. First, the ideas of functionalism were constrained to the dominant values of society. Second, the theory is confusing 'function' with 'cause'. The theory is not for explanation. Third, functionalism focuses on a macro-analysis of social systems and neglects the interpersonal struggles. Finally, some theorists mistakenly assume something deserves to be maintained just because it is functional.

Neofunctionalism describes and explains the process of regional integration with reference to how three causal factors interact with one another: growing economic interdependence between nations; organizational capacity to resolve disputes and build international legal regimes and supranational market rules that replace national regulatory regimes.

Application to my study field

The variables in marketing may include consumers, agencies, and their functions, products, and services; natural resources, governmental agencies, and society at large. More essentially, the relationships between management and consumer demand, and between socio-demographic factors and political settings determine the nature and the dynamics of marketing. In a marketing system one must consider not only the nature and behavior of its units, but also the number, kind, and intensity of the networks of functional relations among them. In another way, the subsets of marketing can be perceived as integrations working together effectively. Alderson, one scholar applied the social-psychological concepts of functionalism to marketing system, revealed three conditions for realization of survival: operational efficiency, adaptability and growth. Efficiencies were obtained through the coordinative efforts of managers as they planned, organized, directed, and controlled a system's operations. While efficiencies can lead to products which are not in demand, Alderson evolved adaptability and growth. According to Alderson's model, firms are viewed as organized behavior systems interacting on a parallel with small groups and individuals. Alderson's theory states that structure should reflect function, this matches points of structural functionalism. Secondly, it also suggests that functionally equivalent structures of interacting