This course focuses on the Open System Theory/Thinking (OST) originally associated with researchers at the Tavistock Institute, and its long tradition of Action Research. OST, also called Social Scology, is a distinctive school in management and organization studies developed over the past 60 years, with Action Research at its core. The course discusses its origins and history, recent developments, distinctive conceptual and intervention principles, and practical applications using Action Research method. OST’s 3 levels of analysis and intervention: socio- psychological, socio-technical and socio-ecological, will be examined in detail. The course situates OST in relation to other schools in management and organization studies, and to other approaches to Action Research. Illustrative topics Origins and history; recent developments: connections to strategy, dynamic capabilities and design thinking; pioneers and recent/current practitioners; Intervention principles and modalities; levels of analysis and intervention: socio-psychological, socio-technical, socio- ecological; workplace interventions: factory, office, digital/virtual, transorganizational settings; domain-based, ecological and other large-scale interventions: community, regional, interest group settings.