2015/16 Taught Postgraduate Module Catalogue

LUBS5313M Systems Thinking

15 creditsClass Size: 60

Module manager: Stan Karanasios
Email: S.Karanasios@lubs.leeds.ac.uk

Taught: Semester 1 (Sep to Jan) View Timetable

Year running 2015/16

This module is not approved as an Elective

Objectives

Systems science/thinking allows researchers and managers to fully understand a problem by examining the parts in relation to the whole. Systems thinking theories and methodologies are applicable to almost any problem facing public and private organisations, supply chains and societies; they are used in strategic planning, information systems and knowledge management, organisational studies, corporate social responsibility, production and supply chain management, medical and health, and social-technical project management. The module will draw from expertise from researchers working in the areas of Information Management, Social Technical Systems, and Operations and Logistics within the Business School. It will be collaboratively developed and team taught.

The aim of this module is to provide students with an understanding of and the ability to apply a variety of systems thinking theories and methodologies to addressing practical business problems.

Learning outcomes
The module has the following Learning Outcomes:

1. Understand the key ideas, theories and concepts in the domain of both soft and hard systems thinking.
2. Critically apply these theories and ideas to problems in a variety of application domains.
3. Critically evaluate how theory and practice may be improved with systems thinking.
4. Develop a critical awareness of how these ideas can be developed and exploited to have more impact on practice and policy.

Syllabus

- An introduction to systems theory - reviewing its history, main principles, different traditions, hard and soft systems methodologies, and applications
- Soft Systems Methodology (SSM) - overview of its development and application to both systems analysis and development and organisational problem solving
- Activity Theory and Activity Systems - describing the relationship between the underpinning concepts of activity theory, its relationship to systems theory and application of theory as analytical framework
- Social technical systems thinking and practice - drawing on analyses of a range of problem domains e.g., disasters, resilience, engineering design
- Hard systems methods - operations research (OR) approach e.g., mathematic modelling, dynamic computer simulations, causal loop modelling and scenario planning and application to a supply chain beer distribution system.
- Modelling of complexity and complex systems and application to supplier-customer systems
- Modelling of social networks and social network analysis
- Tools for systems thinkers

Teaching methods

Delivery type	Number	Length hours	Student hours
Lecture	11	2.00	22.00
Seminar	4	2.00	8.00
Private study hours			120.00
Total Contact hours			30.00
Total hours (100hr per 10 credits)			150.00

Private study

Students are expected to spend their private study undertaking activities such as preparing for lectures and seminars; and preparing for assessment. This will include activities such as completing assigned reading including text books, case studies, and other material available on-line.
The time allocation is roughly:
- 33 hours: 3 hours reading per lecture
- 12 hours: 3 hours reading per seminar
- 75 hours: Writing up essay

Methods of assessment

Coursework

Assessment type	Notes	% of formal assessment
Essay	3,000 words	100.00
Total percentage (Assessment Coursework)		100.00

Normally resits will be assessed by the same methodology as the first attempt, unless otherwise stated

Reading list

The reading list is available from the Library website

Last updated: 24/09/2015

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