Reference no: EM134042133 , Length: Word Count:1500

Systems Thinking, Soft Systems Methodology Analysis Report

Learning Outcome 1: Critically evaluate key paradigms of Systems Thinking and their application to contemporary business issues.

Learning Outcome 2: Develop a visual representation of complex multi- dimensional situations that capture multiple stakeholder perspectives.

Assessment Task

You have been engaged as an external Systems Thinking consultant. Using the Systems Thinking knowledge and the Soft Systems Methodology (SSM) approach, critically analyse a real organisation experiencing a complex, messy problem situation, and produce a client-ready consulting report that diagnoses the situation and recommends holistic, feasible solutions. This task asks you to apply SSM tools (Rich Picture, CATWOE, Root Definition, Conceptual Modelling) exactly as a practicing consultant would: grounded in the specific, verifiable detail of one real organisation, and in your own professional judgement about what that organisation should do next.

Please refer to the Instructions for details on how to complete this task.

Context

Today's world of business is complex and is growing more complex every day. We live in a dynamic world, which consists of various complex adaptive systems and requires today's business professionals (e.g. leaders, managers, consultants, etc.) to take a holistic view of the business. For instance, managers must contend with technological innovation, along with an ever-growing global economy in which events at one end of the globe will affect businesses at the other end. Therefore, making effective Decision Making is much more difficult in this brave new world. Systems thinking provides a model of decision-making that helps organisations effectively deal with change.

The analysis may also consider Change Management and Strategic Management perspectives where relevant to the selected organisation.

Instructions

Read and understand the topics covered in the Systems Thinking and Soft Systems Methodology (SSM) module.

In Week 1, your Subject Coordinator will provide a list of organisations. Select one to focus on, or, with your Learning Facilitator's prior approval, choose an organisation you have personally worked for, studied, or engaged with in a professional capacity. Conduct thorough research on your chosen case study and gather detailed information about the organisation, drawing from credible resources such as the Torrens University Library, IBISWorld, and Google Search. Ensure you collect up-to-date reports and properly save all your references for your report.

As a consultant, write a report in 1,500 words or less on how and why Systems Thinking and Soft Systems Methodology (SSM) can be utilised and applied to the case study to overcome its current issue, challenge, or problem.

Please structure your report as follows:

Executive Summary: In 150-200 words, summarise your entire report. For instance, you will need to provide brief statements of the main points, which include, but are not limited to, the purpose of your report, the methodology you have used to solve the problem and the findings of your report.

Table of Contents: List all the sections of your report with their corresponding page numbers.

Introduction: Introduce the case study under investigation (e.g. company history, mission and vision, market share, etc.), including a brief justification (in 2-3 sentences) for your organisation choice and how the analysis connects to your own professional interests or career goals. Then, introduce the problem, issue, or challenge which needs careful attention and investigation in this report.

Roles of Systems Thinking in Overcoming the Identified Problem/Issue/Challenge: Discuss ‘how' and ‘why’ Systems Thinking and its tools and techniques (e.g. Rich Picture, CATWOE Analysis, Root Definition, Conceptual Modelling) can help and support the case organisation in overcoming its problem, issue, or challenge.

Rich Picture: Draw the Rich Picture, which provides a complete overview of the complex system under review. First, introduce the Rich Picture, then insert it as a figure (e.g. Figure 1: Rich Picture of [case organisation name]) and discuss it. Please note that Rich Pictures created using Artificial Intelligence (AI) will not be accepted. Immediately after the figure, add a short (50-75 words) Design Rational explaining, in your own words, two or three specific choices you made in constructing the Rich Picture (e.g., why particular actors, conflicts, or symbols were included) and how they reflect the realities of your chosen organisation.

CATWOE Analysis and Root Definition: Focus on the development of the CATWOE analysis table. First, introduce the CATWOE analysis table, then insert it as a table (e.g. Table 1: CATWOE Analysis for [case organisation name]) and discuss it. Then, articulate the Root Definition Statement after the CATWOE analysis table.

Development and Comparison of Conceptual Models: Develop two (2) to three (3) conceptual models that describe the current problem situation and the available potential solutions. Then, compare them with the actual problem situation and choose the best one which helps you to propose the required recommendations or solutions. Please note that Conceptual Models created using Artificial Intelligence (AI) will not be accepted. After the comparison, briefly explain (50-75 words) why you rejected the alternative model(s) in favour of the one you selected, referring to the specific constraints of your chosen organisation.

Recommendations/Solutions: Based on your analysis, identify the two (2) to three (3) changes required to solve the current problem situation. Recommend two (2) to three (3) optimal recommendations or solutions to overcome the identified problem, issue, or challenge.

Reflective Practice: In approximately 150 words, reflect as an emerging Systems Thinking practitioner on which SSM tool (Rich Picture, CATWOE, or conceptual modelling) you found most challenging to apply to your chosen organisation, why it was challenging, and how you would use this learning in your own future professional practice.

Conclusion: Briefly discuss a synthesis of the main points in the report. The conclusion section must remind the reader what the report is about.

References: Review and use a minimum of four (4) academic references (e.g. journal articles, book chapters, textbooks, conference papers, etc.) and at least two (2) non-academic references (e.g. company websites, newspaper articles, government websites, consultants' reports, etc.). Ensure all sources are high quality, credible and relevant. References should be listed alphabetically and unnumbered. Please avoid using Wikipedia or non-academic wikis.

Tips and Advice: On a separate page preceding the Executive Summary, please include the following information:

Subject Code and Title, Assessment Number and Task, Student Name and Surname, Student Number, Trimester, and Year.

Write the report in third person (e.g. the writer, the consultant, the author, etc.).

Ensure all sections of the report are appropriately and accurately labelled and numbered.

Ensure Any inserted diagram/picture is labelled/captioned as ‘Figure' and is numbered appropriately (e.g. Figure 1, Figure 2, etc.). Provide the reference(s), if any.

Ensure any inserted table in the report is labelled/captioned as ‘Table' and is numbered appropriately (e.g. Table 1, Table 2, etc.). Provide the reference(s), if any.

Note that the Executive Summary, Table of Contents, Inserted Tables and Figures, and the References List are excluded from the total word count.

Consult and make significant reference to the subject content, including other readings and relevant literature.

For referencing purposes, adhere to the current TUA APA Referencing Style Guide.

Referencing

It is essential that you use current APA style for citing and referencing.