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2017/18 Taught Postgraduate Module Catalogue

LUBS5892M Systems Thinking and Consulting Practice

15 creditsClass Size: 60

Module manager: Dr Matthew Davis
Email: m.davis@leeds.ac.uk

Taught: 1 May to 31 July View Timetable

Year running 2017/18

Pre-requisite qualifications

Non-EMBA students taking the module must meet the entry requirements for the EMBA.

Module replaces

LUBS 5875M

This module is not approved as an Elective

Module summary

The module focuses on the theoretical foundations and practical applications of socio-technical systems thinking across a range of problem domains, which may include: IT systems; accident analysis; information sharing; organizational resilience; workspace design; tele-health, and; crowd management. The module will last for 3.5 days and will include practical examples and case studies. There will be reflection on applying the systems framework to consulting practice. It will be assessed in part by a group assignment that requires you to work in teams to analyse a business problem or event, in addition to an individual assignment.

Objectives

The aim of this module is to introduce students to key ideas, theories and concepts in the domain of systems thinking. The module aims to use practical tasks, group case study analysis, discussion and case examples to support students in applying a socio-technical systems framework to a variety of application domains. The module also aims to provide an insight into how organizational practice and consulting can be improved with systems thinking.

This module offers students the opportunity to develop skills in applying systems thinking to contemporary business problems.

Learning outcomes
Knowledge outcomes:

On completion of this module, students will be able to critically evaluate:
- Key ideas, theories and concepts in the domain of socio-technical systems thinking
- Linkages between human factors, psychology, management and technical aspects of complex systems
- How organizational practice and consulting can be improved with systems thinking

Skills outcomes:

On completion of this module, students will be able to:

Subject specific:
- Apply systems theory as part of consulting practice, to understand a range of problems

Transferable:
- Work effectively as a member of a team


Syllabus

Indicative content:

The syllabus comprises:
- History of systems thinking
- Socio-Technical Systems Thinking
- Benefits of a systems framework for organizational practice and consulting
- Application of a Socio-Technical Systems framework for retrospective analysis.
Application of Scenarios Planning tools for Socio-Technical design.
- Systems thinking applied to a range of domains, including:
New Technology and Organizational Change
Workspace Design
Crowd Behaviour and Management
Tele-health
Organizational Resilience
Information Sharing

Teaching methods

Delivery typeNumberLength hoursStudent hours
Workshop38.0024.00
Independent online learning hours10.00
Private study hours116.00
Total Contact hours24.00
Total hours (100hr per 10 credits)150.00

Private study

The contact hours will include lectures delivery, group learning and discussions, interactive case study examples and plenaries. The non-contact hours will comprise students’ private study and independent learning, including: subject matter readings, both prior to and during the module; preparation for the plenary discussions and case studies; research and collaboration for the group assignment; independent research and preparation for the exam; and additional private study to further their own knowledge and understanding of the topics.

Opportunities for Formative Feedback

The module team will facilitate and monitor all group learning sessions (ie case studies, group work and discussions), enabling the progress of both the groups and the individual students to be assessed.
- The interspersed presentation of the case studies and accompanying plenary discussions will also enable feedback to be provided throughout the module (both by the module team and by the students themselves), helping the students to continually enhance their performance over the course of the module.

Methods of assessment


Coursework
Assessment typeNotes% of formal assessment
EssayIndividual assignment (2000 words)70.00
ReportGroup report (3000 words)30.00
Total percentage (Assessment Coursework)100.00

The resit for this module will be 100% by coursework

Reading list

The reading list is available from the Library website

Last updated: 01/12/2017

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