Practical Systems Thinking
Engineers, social scientists, and managers frequently bring people and technology together to address complex problematic situations in an equitable way that benefits people and the environment. Multiple systems concepts and methods have been developed to address these situations, and typical courses in systems focus on a relatively small portion of the rich assortment of available approaches to addressing systems problems. This course introduces students to multiple systems concepts and methods via readings and class discussion. The students then apply these concepts and methods on team-based projects. The course will emphasize critical thinking about how the concepts and methods are applicable to the problematic situations of the projects and how well the project teams were able to perform the required activities.
SYS53000
Credit Hours:
3Learning Objective:
There are five key learning outcomes for this course:1. Learning about group project team formation, operation, and evaluation
2. Learning and applying a collection of functionalist systems methods in a team environment
3. Learning and applying an interpretive systems method in a team environment
4. Learning and applying critical systems heuristics and soft systems methodology in a team environment
5. Developing written and oral communication products to present results
Description:
Engineers, social scientists, and managers frequently bring people and technology together to address complex problematic situations in an equitable way that benefits people and the environment. Multiple systems concepts and methods have been developed to address these situations, and typical courses in systems focus on a relatively small portion of the rich assortment of available approaches to addressing systems problems. This course introduces students to multiple systems concepts and methods via readings and class discussion. The students then apply these concepts and methods on team-based projects. The course will emphasize critical thinking about how the concepts and methods are applicable to the problematic situations of the projects and how well the project teams were able to perform the required activities.
Topics Covered:
1.1. Course Introduction1.2. Systems Thinking
2.1. General Group Methods
2.2. Group Projects in Online Learning
2.3. Project Team Formation
2.4. Project Team Peer Evaluation
3.1. Applied Systems Thinking
3.2. The Systems Language
3.3. System Modeling Concepts
4.1. Concept Generation
4.2. Concept Selection
1.1. The Viable System Model Applied to For-Profit and Not-For-Profit Organizations
1.2. The Viable System Model Applied to Education and Healthcare
6.1. Soft Systems Methodology
6.2. Critical Systems Heuristics