The purpose of this paper is to review the conceptual and methodological approach of one of the authors who has been identifying and modifying system states while a consultant to educational, industrial, and govern-mental institutions. We set out the approach as follows: First, we identify the elements which comprise the general system andfunction to maintain its existent state. These elements are called GIST (Groups, Individuals, Struc-ture, and Technology) and make up the subsystems of any organization which has begun to undergo bureaucratization. Second, we present the hierarchy of organizational values and human needs which are met depend-ing upon the social-psychological state of the system at a given time. Third, we review the development of social-psychological measurement tools.
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