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T205A – SYSTEMS’ THINKING THEORY & PRACTICE

2018/2019 SEMESTER I – Fall 2018


T205 A -TMA- Semester I - 2018 – 2019

Question 1 (100% marks)

You are strongly advised to use the AOU e-library to locate additional relevant
resources which can support your analysis and argument. This will earn you extra
points.

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(a) Read through the attached article “Using Systems Thinking to Educate for
Sustainability in a Business School”, as you read through the article, create one
Spray diagram to summarize the different ideas of the article respecting the
conventions, and techniques. It is advised that students submit hand drawn
diagrams as opposed to computer generated ones. Photocopies of diagrams should
not be accepted. Reflect on your diagram in no more than 200 words. (15 Marks)

(b) Based on what you learned in T205A (T552/Diagramming), and on the content of
the article, draw a System Map diagram to show all the challenges of both the
application of systems thinking to the design of programs and the teaching of
system thinking to support understanding of sustainability. The system map
should include all the challenges of the system paying special attention to the

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grouping and the hierarchy. Reflect on your diagram in no more than 200 words
(15 Marks)

(c) Based on what you learned in T205A concept file 02, and T551 Linear
Programming:
1- Describe what is meant by systems thinking. (Word Count 400; 15 Marks).
2- Analyze the type of situations discussed in the case; justify your answer based on
what you learned in T551 linear programing (Word Count 400; 10 Marks).
3- Assess the validity of applying each of the three ways of thinking (causal, logical,
and reductionist) for understanding the linkage between teaching systems thinking
and sustainability as discussed in the case. (Word Count 400; 15 Marks).
4- Analyze how and whether applying the systems approach to the problem of
integrating systems thinking and sustainability through the curriculum of Business
School can improve and enlighten the understanding of the problem (Word Count
400; 20 Marks).
5- Using a systems’ approach, and relying on concepts covered in concept file 02
assess the benefits and limitations of using systems thinking to educate for
sustainability in Business School. (Word count 400, 10 Marks)

(2000 words) (70 marks) (Please see guidance below)

TMA Guidance to students

(a) Note that the submission for this question requires your rough spray diagrams, and
a condensed or tided up version. You should do your best to follow the conventions for
the spray diagram as explained in T552. It is also important that the diagram
communicates to your tutor, so make sure the writing is legible and not too small.
However, don't redraw your initial rough spray diagrams just to tidy them up; we want to
see what you drew as you worked. You need to identify the main idea of the article and
include it within your central topic, and then identify the most important points and
include them within the subtopics blobs then branch out as explained in T552 appendix
(A1.1.)

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(b) Here you are required to draw a system map, which includes all the relevant
components of the “US Health Care System” as discussed in the case without neglecting
the assumptions. Your tutor’s feedback will be helpful in clarifying to you any
misconceptions you might have about drawing the diagram and it will also help in
assessing your diagramming skills.

(c) Here you are required to draw back on concepts learned in T551 and Concept file
02 (as relevant) in order to analyze the questions. Please remember that for each section
you need to provide a clear theoretical discussion, and then explain how those concepts
are applied in the case on hand. Again you are strongly advised to use your own words to
discuss the concepts as you understood them. Do not copy material from the books since
it will have a negative impact on your grade, and very importantly do not get consumed in
a purely theoretical analysis without assessing how these concepts are applied in the case
study. Make sure to respect the word count as it is an indicator to you of the depth of
analysis required. Please remember that failure to paraphrase, and to reference will also
lead to failing the TMA.

There are different ways to tackle and structure your ideas. Please remember that your
work should be structured in an essay format with a clear introduction, then possibly
different subsections (as needed) to assess each idea and a conclusion.
The introduction should set out the topic of the discussion clearly. For each of the body
paragraphs/sub-sections you need to provide a clear theoretical discussion which explains
how the relevant course concepts are related to the article on hand. The conclusion should
summarize your findings and reflect on your learning. You should not write in the first
person (i.e. I think), the third person is more appropriate for college level writing (i.e. we
can conclude), but in any case it is preferable to avoid both styles and to state your
argument (i.e. instead of saying “this essay will tackle the ways of thinking and the
systems thinking approach”, you can start with a statement about system’s thinking in
organizations). Similarly in your conclusion you should not use “it could be concluded”,
rather simply restate the main points and your findings.

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End of TMA Questions

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