What Is Functional Analysis?

An analytical approach to explain cultural or social phenomena from a functional perspective. Founded by the functional school master Marinowski. In theory, this method emphasizes that culture is a whole produced to meet needs, and emphasizes a functional perspective to explain dynamic cultural or social phenomena; in practice, it emphasizes participation in observation, which requires anthropologists to go deep into reality, and The local people are integrated, observing and experiencing their true ideas and emotions ^[1] .

It is a survey method used in sociology and social anthropology, which studies social functions and their interactions in society by placing social or cultural phenomena in a wider context. The theoretical basis of functional analysis is related doctrine and functionalism. It is believed that any social phenomenon does not occur and exist in isolation, and it is advocated to study it from its relationship with other phenomena.

Functional analysis typically uses three related assumptions:

(1) standardized social and cultural programs have an impact on the entire social or cultural system;

(2) all social and cultural projects have certain social functions;

(3) These items are indispensable.

American sociologist T. Parsons and others proposed the famous "AGIL analysis format" on the basis of their previous functional analysis in 1953. Another American sociologist, R. Merton, also proposed a functional analysis format including 11 points in the article "Explicit Functions and Latent Functions" in 1949: identifying various social items with functions (such as social roles, institutional models) , Social processes, cultural models, group organization, etc.); antecedents and consequences of subjective intentions such as motivation and purpose; objective effects, distinguishing positive and negative functions, explicit functions and latent functions; the various parts affected by functions; the necessary conditions for functions; exercise Functional institutions; functional substitution; structural constraints; social dynamics and social changes; comparative research confirms the conclusions of functional analysis; the impact of ideology on functional analysis. Western sociological circles have two very different attitudes to functional analysis. The school, represented by Swedish economic and sociologist G. Murdal, believes that functional analysis is a conservative sociologist's tendency to defend the existing order and oppose change. The school represented by American sociologist R Lapier believes that the perspective of functional analysis is critical, judgmental is pragmatic, and radical in nature ^[2]

Methodological propositions in political science that focus on the function of the political system for dynamic analysis. One of the representative methods in behaviorist politics. Includes 4 types:

Comprehensive functionalism, comprehensive study of the activities and purposes of various actors in the political system.

Empirical functionalism focuses on the results or influence of the activities of political actors, that is, their "functions". The expected direct result is obvious function, and the unexpected indirect result is potential function. The two functions may be consistent or inconsistent.

Structural functionalism, which holds that the function of a political system depends on the internal structure of the system. The scientificity and rationality of the structure enables the system to be maintained, continued, and functioned.

International functionalism focuses on the integrated development process, trend and influence of the international political system. Among the four types is represented by structural functionalism, the founder of which is Almond. The emergence of functional analysis reflects the full use of systems science methodology in the field of political science, marking the transformation of political science research from traditional static analysis to dynamic analysis and cross-disciplinary stereo analysis ^[3]

One of the most important aspects of value engineering. That is, a series of activities to systematically perform a functional analysis of a product, its components, components, parts, or a project and its details, and find ways to increase value. Functional analysis generally includes three steps: (1) determine the function. Is to use concise and appropriate language to express the function or role of a product, to deepen the understanding of product functions, and to provide a basis for the function replacement program; (2) function organization. It is to clarify the scope of the function, to find out which basic functions are available, by what means these basic functions are to be realized, and what is the relationship between the purpose and means of the functions; It is to find the minimum or necessary cost of a specific function, and use the ratio of this cost to the actual cost as an indicator of the evaluation function. The function evaluation procedure is: grasp the actual cost of the part or process; allocate the cost of the part or process to its various functions; find out the necessary costs to complete the function; queue the functions from the effect of value engineering. The purpose of functional evaluation is to ensure better economic effects of value engineering ^[4]

Refers to the process of analyzing the value of a product from its functions and costs to find out the specific goals of reducing costs or increasing functionality. Functional analysis is at the core of the value engineering approach. Its content includes function definition, function arrangement, function cost analysis and function evaluation. It starts from the goal of increasing product value, analyzes product functions, and defines the functions to accurately grasp the user's requirements for the product and its constituent elements. After the function arrangement, the functional system diagram of the product is drawn to clarify the relationship between the functions. On the basis of the clear functional system diagram, the minimum necessary cost for implementing each function is used as the benchmark for function evaluation. Compared with the actual cost of implementing these functions, find the functions with low value and improved expectations. . Finally, through the search for improvement programs, the purpose of eliminating excess quality and excess costs or insufficient supplementary functions is achieved ^[5] .