Social System Theory in Communication

Communication as an academic and professional field can be subjected to biological anatomy that seeks to explain how it can oil and liven up meaning-making processes in any given organization set up as it was propounded by the first German English speaking researcher in the twentieth century. One of the most innovative German sociologists Niklas Luhmann developed a distinctive and complex theory about the social, which stimulate research in various academic fields since the twentieth century. Luhmann's “social system theory” thrives on the concept of “outopoiesis” that translates to (self-production) which is rooted in the work of two Chilean Cognitive Biologists (Maturana and Verela 1980). Luhmann discovered that different elements of the system interact in such a manner to produce and reproduce the elements of the system. Just like the biological process through which cell reproduces its own elements like proteins, lipids, which are imported from outside to inside (Seidl and Schoeneborn 2010). This is in contrast to “allopoietic” systems, which is influenced by the external forces, “autopoietic systems” are operatively closed and no external forces enter in. This system of communication in the context of “autopoietic” is self-regulating and sustaining and this is equal to natural communication that is free from the pressures from outside. To Luhamann (1992) every communication selects WHAT is communicated for everything that could have been communicated. Luhamann (1992) defines “utterance” as the selection of a particular form and reason from all possible forms and reasons. With “Utterance” one needs to understand the reason for communication in the context of HOW and WHY something is being said. While on the other hand there is a need to understand “information” in any communication scenario as “selection of from a repertoire of possibility”. Therefore, effective communication needs to understand and distinguish between “UTTERANCE and INFORMATION”. Organizations as an “autopoietic system” should consider three issues that are society, face to face interaction and organization as these three mentioned factors reproduce themselves on the basis of communications. The concept of Corporate Social Responsibility and sustainability in the context of communication by an organization should consider the three factors as biochemical elements of thoughts. Society is the system that encompasses all communications that are produced and enable an environment to interact with an organization in a biological set up. However, Luhmann's theory of the social system is accused of its tendency to immunize against criticism. The epistemological value of social system theory as a whole in communication becomes a matter of viability, not correspondence with social reality. Secondly, Luhmann's approach is not empirically falsifiable whether it can inspire empirical studies at all. Vogal (2005) suggests that there is a need to combine social System Theory with reconstructive methodology in order to uncover the latency of the social system. It is of interest to read further and assess the validity of the social system theory and how it can benefit effective communication by organisations as they interact with society as well as other organisation.

Joshua Nkomo Academic Memorial Lecture held at Midlands State University

MIDLANDS State University (MSU) hosted the Joshua Nkomo Academic Memorial Lecture which was graced by the Minister of Higher and Tertiary Education, Science and Technology Development Professor Amon Murwira. “Joshua Mqabuko Nyongolo Nkomo is one of the prolific African leaders from Matabeleland in Zimbabwe who deserve respect beyond the region and across the globe”, said Prof Amon Murwira in his speech. Dr. Nkomo was born in 1917 in Bukalanga or Bulilima in Matabeleland South and died on July 1999 in Parirenyatwa Hospital in Harare due to prostate cancer, and was declared a National hero. Dr Nkomo was the founder and president of the National Democratic Party (NDP) in 1960, Zimbabwe African People’s Union party (ZAPU) in 1962. ZAPU fought along-side with Zimbabwe African National Union (ZANU) towards liberating Zimbabwe from colonial rule. He served as Vice president of Zimbabwe under ZANU PF lead by Robert Gabriel Mugabe from 1987 to 1999. Professor Ngonidzashe Victor Muzvidziwa, described Dr Joshua Mqabuko Nkomo as an esteemed philosopher and rare specie. “The crown of man’s achievement is the love he displays”, said the Permanent Secretary for the Ministry of Higher and Tertiary Education, Science and Technology Development Professor Fanual Tarwireyi. The invited guest who delivered at the Joshua Nkomo Academic Memorial Lecture, Professor Sabelo Gatsheni Ndlovu from University of South Africa (UNISA) said our tertiary education sector in Zimbabwe is hampered by tribalism, sexism and greediness, which is what the late Dr Nkomo disliked. “Why should we remember Joshua Mqabuko Nkomo? He is a man who was being on fire for justice, who fought with consciousness to lift and empower others”, Prof Gatsheni revealed. “Corporate Universities that are run like corporate organisation, which recruits students in masses to generate profit disturbs the quality of our education and graduates, leading to access of education by the less intelligent but with money”, he said. Graduates should develop love for knowledge and not certificates and our universities and colleges should desist from massification and produce relevant knowledge that enable graduates to solve problems emanating from Africa using local langauge, he added. Professor Sabelo Gatsheni Ndlovu praised 5.0 approach introduced by Professor Murwira which encourage students to be innovative and to generate new ideas related to problems faced in Zimbabwe. “Our education have the crisis of being elitist that is accessible to those with money and segregating those intelligent from poor families”, Professor Gatsheni said

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