Reference no: EM132666406 , Length: word count:3000

Part A: Proposal Individual (500 words)

Instructions:

• Identify a real local or global organisation that is currently facing significant issues and critically analyse how a Systems Thinking approach can assist in making optimal decisions.

For example: You are working as operations manager in a company of your choice. This company has been in business for almost 10 years and is now being confronted with many operational issues related to inventory management. Sometimes there is excess stock and other times shortage of the inventory that are hearting the bottom line performance of the company.

In addition to that new competitors and demand from customers to deliver faster and cheaper require organization a different approach rather than just solving the inventory problems.

• Once you have chosen your organisation and connected issue you are then required to prepare and post in the Assessment 1 Discussion Forum at least one (1) original post identifying intended or unintended consequences on various stakeholders of their chosen organisation and then recommend/propose alternative policies/procedures using Systems Thinking approach to help overcome the problem. Key points to consider in your initial post: Your proposal should be holistic.

• You must include reference to "Systems Thinking Literature".

• Consider using Systems Thinking tools such as Rich Picture and CATWOE etc.

Part B: 2 Critiques. Each critique 250 words.

Instructions: • Each student is required to critique an original post (Part A) of two (2) peers. • Each Critique should be maximum 250 words. Overall your Assessment 1 (Part B) should be 500 words
• Your Critique should include commentary on:

Whether the original post is holistic. Please identify missing components,¦ if any, and provide constructive feedback.
Have all plausible consequences been identified?¦
Have Systems Thinking tools been used and used properly? Please¦ provide a critique on these tools and there use in solving the problem identified.
Please make sure to highlight the authors of the chosen posts.¦
It is essential that you use appropriate APA style for citing and¦ referencing research where necessary and required.

2 PART 1=Rich Picture, CATWOE and Root Definition Report

Length Up to 1200 words Learning Outcomes b) Create a visual depiction of a multi-dimensional complex situation that represents differing views

Context: We live in a dynamic world, which consists of various complex adaptive systems and requires today's managers to take a holistic view of the business. In order to gain a holistic understanding, managers need to understand all the key stakeholders and the intended and unintended consequences of their decisions. To achieve this objective, managers need to learn and apply systems thinking tools and techniques. One such tool is "Rich Picture". Rich picture helps us express our own understanding of the world, the stakeholders to be considered and the impact that they may have our actions. Tools such as Rich picture, CATWOE and Root Definition reports helps us to understand others' perspectives without getting involved in conflicting arguments of convincing one another about their own worldview.

Instructions: This assessment is to be completed individually and is linked to Assessment 1 (Part A). To successfully complete Assessment two (2) students will write a comprehensive report that helps resolve the problem they introduced in Assessment 1. Using the resulting discussion as a platform students are required to analyse and synthesise consequences on MGT603_Assess 2 Rich Picture, CATWOE and Root Definition Report Page 2 of 7 Various stakeholders involved while achieving the goals and objectives through policy implementation.
There are two (2) sections to Assessment 2
1)Rich Picture - Students are to create a Rich Picture of the problem they identified in Assessment 1. This can be hand drawn and should provide a consise overview of the complex system under review.
2) Root Definition report using CATWOE - A Root Definition report is a structured analysis and description of the system being investigated. A Root Definition report explains the what, how and why. A CATWOE analysis can help in the development of a thorough Root Definition Report. CATWOE is a mnemonic that identifys all stakeholders in the system being analysed. CATWOE standsfor C- Customers/clients A - Actors T - Transformation Process W- Weltanschauung / Worldview O - Owners E- Environment To successfully complete Assessment 2 both sections must be completed. Your final report must include • Rich Picture • Root Definition Report using CATWOE. • And, based on these two tools, students will recommend a minimum of two(2) optimal solutions to overcome the problem/policy challenge identified in Assessment 1 (Part A).
PLEASE NOTE: Your artistic talent will not be assessed, but rather your holistic understanding of the problem in question. Submission Instructions: The Rich Picture and Root Definition Report using CATWOE needs to be produced according to academic writing guidelines and must be submitted in compliance with the following;
1. You should make significant references to the subject material and substantial wider reading. A minimum four (4) academic (books & peer-reviewed journal articles) & two (2) other sources (newspaper article, trade publications, websites, etc.) must be used. These should be referenced in the APA style, both in-text and in a reference list. References to ‘Wikipedia' or similar unsubstantiated sources will not be accepted.
2. The Assessment is to include in-text citations and a reference list following the latest APA referencing style.

PART 3- Written Report-Up to 2000 words
Analyse, select and apply systems modelling tools in integrating, optimising and enhancing businessprocesses within contemporary organisations. d) Synthesise technological and non-technological solutions to business problems that promote integration and that optimise whole-of-enterprise operations

Context: There are two approaches towards improving systems, short-term approaches that normally addresses the symptoms and rarely help understand and address the cause of the problem, and long-term approaches, which allow managers to address the real cause(s) of the problem. In this assessment, students will try to solve a practical problem by using Systems Thinking tools called System Archetypes combined with value stream mapping.

Instructions:

PART 3 is about uncovering the complexities in operations management generally, identifying key themes, intended and unintended consequences and proposing a holistic solution to the problem using a Systems Thinking lens.

The following scenario study provides you with a brief overview of a hypothetical problem. Be aware that the scenario provided may not cover every detail that you will need to address in the Written Report, in which case, you will need to conduct additional research, including further research on how emergency departments function in any hospital.

Overview: Consider yourself as part of a team responsible for managing the operations of an emergency department of a public hospital. The emergency department has received feedback from patients suggesting that the patient wait times need to be improved. The value stream map of the current operations is shown in the attached diagram.
The Value Stream Map is can be Found via the Assessment Link.

You have been tasked with improving patient turnaround time by reducing the current time to half. To complete the task you are required to identify the various System Archetypes that affect the operations of the hospital and the emergency department itself and based on the archetypes, develop a future State Value Stream Map of the emergency department.

It is recommended that you identify and critically analyse intended and unintended consequences, recommending holistic solutions that will optimise the operations of the emergency department without compromising the performance of other functions of the hospital.

Suggested format: Your Written Report should include the following sections and sub-sections. Executive Summary
Table of Contents
1. Introduction/Background
2. Main Discussion
2.1. Identification and analysis of the System Archetypes that may impede performance
2.2. Analysis of the current State Value Stream Map of the emergency department based on System Archetypes
2.3. Recommended new State Value Stream Map with desired reduction in patient turnaround time
2.4. Discussion on Intended and unintended consequences of the modified system
3. Conclusion
4. Recommendations
5. References
6. Appendices (Appendix A, Appendix B, ...)

Submission Instructions:

This Written Report is to be written according to academic writing guidelines and must be submitted in compliance with the following;

1. You should make significant references to the subject material and substantial wider reading. A minimum five (5) academic (books & peer-reviewed journal articles)& two (2) other sources (newspaper article, trade publications, websites, etc.) must be used. These should be referenced in the APA style, both in-text and in a reference list. References to ‘Wikipedia' or similar unsubstantiated sources will not be accepted.

2. The assignment is to include in-text citations and a reference list following the latest APA referencing style.