MGT603_ Assessment 1_ Part A & Part B Page 1 of 8
ASSESSMENT 1 BRIEF
Subject Code and Title MGT603: Systems Thinking
Assessment Part A: Proposal Individual (500 words)
Part B : Critique Individual (250 words)
Individual/Group Individual
Length Part A: One Original Post (500 words)
Part B: 2 Critiques. Each critique should be maximum 250
words. (Overall 500 words)
Learning Outcomes a) Critically evaluate the paradigms of Systems
Thinking conceptualisation and its application
to contemporary business issues
Submission Part A: By 11:55pm AEST/AEDT Friday of Module 2.2
(week 4)
Part B: By 11:55pm AEST/AEDT Friday of Module 3.1
(week 5)
For intensive class:
Part A: By 11:55pm AEST/AEDT Friday of Module 2.2
(week 2)
Part B: By 11:55pm AEST/AEDT Friday of Module 3.1
(week 3)
Weighting Part A: 20%
Part B: 20%
Total Marks Part A: 20 marks
Part B: 20 marks
Context:
Systems Thinking requires you to take a holistic view of the world we live in and the
organisations we work with. This assessment has been prescribed to appraise students’
ability to think holistically and generate discussion around recognising and understanding
organisational operations using a Systems Thinking lens. The assessment will
oaden your
knowledge of and appreciation for using a different approach to look for and solve problems
faced by managers in contemporary organisations.
MGT603_ Assessment 1_ Part A & Part B Page 2 of 8
This assessment has been designed to:
• Appraise your ability to academically research and evaluate paradigms of Systems
Thinking conceptualisation and apply to contemporary business issues.
• You are expected to utilise the literature provided in Modules 1 to 3.1 in your analysis
and discussion, and are required to apply critical thinking, presenting multi-sided
findings.
• Successful completion of this assessment will help you to further understand Systems
Thinking in a practical context. It will also help you to maintain cu
ency in the
increasingly changing industry.
Guidelines: There are two (2) parts to Assessment 1. For an acceptable result, you will need to
complete Part A and Part B of Assessment 1.
Part A: Proposal Individual (500 words)
Instructions:
• Identify a real local or global organisation that is cu
ently 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
eing 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.
MGT603_ Assessment 1_ Part A & Part B Page 3 of 8
• Students are also required to provide a
ief rationale of why it is important to use
Systems Thinking and relevant tools and techniques to solve the identified
organisational problem to minimise adverse consequences.
• Please ensure your original posts are in the discussion forum by the end of Module
2.2 (week 4).
• Please make sure to use at least 3 academic related (peer-reviewed journal articles,
ook chapters, conference papers) in your posts. It is essential that you use
appropriate APA style for citing and referencing research. Please see more
information on referencing here
http:
li
ary.laureate.net.au
esearch_skills
eferencing
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
e 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.
Please ensure to submit Assessment 1 (Part B) in the related Discussion
Forum Thread, by the end of Module 3.1 (week 5)
It is essential that you use appropriate APA style for citing and
eferencing research where necessary and required. Please see more
information on referencing here
http:
li
ary.laureate.net.au
esearch_skills
eferencing
Student must actively seek feedback and inputs from peers and facilitator. The individual
student should organise discussion notes and upload it on the Blackboard accordingly.
http:
li
ary.laureate.net.au
esearch_skills
eferencing
http:
li
ary.laureate.net.au
esearch_skills
eferencing
MGT603_ Assessment 1_ Part A & Part B Page 4 of 8
Please note the following additional information
• This assessment is designed to create robust discussion around Systems Thinking with
your peers. Please feel free to post more than what is specified to
oaden your
understanding and appreciation of the topic.
• While presenting your views, you are required to support claims either with the
elevant experience or with the published literature. This includes journal articles,
elevant website links, news article, magazines or text from related books.
• The views could be supporting comments or they may be a contradiction, but you
need to provide appropriate justification as specified above.
• If refe
ing to published literature to support stated views, you are required to provide
elevant reference (and citation) in the response. If you can provide appropriate
articles to support opinion, it will be valued considerably.
• Along with actively participating in the discussions, it is equally important to provide
esponses, which are relevant and add value to the discussion. The quality of response
will be considered as one of the most important criteria for evaluating students in
Assessment 1, Part B.
Submission Instructions:
Submit Part A) – Proposal, Individual (500 words) via the Assessment 1 Discussion
Forum link in the Assessment section found in the main navigation menu of the
subject Blackboard site.
Submit Part B) - Critique, Individual (Overall 500 words) via Assessment 1 Discussion
Forum link in the Assessment section found in the main navigation menu of the
subject Blackboard site.
The Learning Facilitator will provide feedback via the Grade Centre in the LMS portal.
Feedback can be viewed in My Grades.
MGT603_ Assessment 1_ Part A & Part B Page 5 of 8
Learning Ru
ic: MGT603 Systems Thinking Assessment 1 Part A and Part B
Assessment
Attributes
Fail (Unacceptable)
0-49%
Pass
(Functional)
50-64%
Credit
(Proficient)
65-74%
Distinction
(Advanced)
75 -84%
High Distinction
(Exceptional)
85-100%
Knowledge and
understanding
(technical and
theoretical
knowledge)
Understands
theoretical models
and concepts
Percentage for this
criterion
25%
Limited understanding
of required concepts
and knowledge
Key components of the
assignment are not
addressed.
Stakeholders, goals,
intended and
unintended
consequences of the
policy change are not
addressed. Tools and
techniques of systems
thinking such as Rich
picture, Causal loop
diagrams, etc. are not
identified
Knowledge or
understanding of the
field or discipline.
Resembles a recall or
summary of key ideas.
Often confuses assertion
of personal opinion with
information
substantiated by
evidence from the
esearch/course
materials.
Stakeholders, goals,
intended and unintended
consequences of the
policy change are
addressed at very
preliminary level. Tools
and techniques of
systems thinking such as
Rich picture, Causal loop
diagrams, etc. are used
ut at very superficial
level
Thorough knowledge or
understanding of the field
or discipline/s. Supports
personal opinion and
information substantiated
y evidence from the
esearch/course materials.
Demonstrates a capacity
to explain and apply
elevant concepts.
Stakeholders, goals,
intended and unintended
consequences of the policy
change are addressed at
appropriate level. Tools
and techniques of systems
thinking such as Rich
picture, Causal loop
diagrams, etc. are used
with clarity.
Highly developed
understanding of the
field or discipline/s.
Discriminates between
assertion of personal
opinion and information
substantiated by robust
evidence from the
esearch/course
materials and extended
eading.
Well demonstrated
capacity to explain and
apply relevant concepts.
Stakeholders, goals,
intended and unintended
consequences of the
policy change are
addressed
comprehensively. Tools
and techniques of
systems thinking such as
Rich picture, Causal loop
diagrams, etc. are used
A sophisticated
understanding of the
field or discipline/s.
Systematically and
critically discriminates
etween assertion of
personal opinion and
information
substantiated by robust
evidence from the
esearch/course
materials and extended
eading.
Mastery of concepts and
application to new
situations/further
learning.
Stakeholders, goals,
intended and
unintended
consequences of the
policy change are
addressed thoroughly.
Tools and techniques of
systems thinking such as
MGT603_ Assessment 1_ Part A & Part B Page 6 of 8
with high level of
understanding
Rich picture, Causal loop
diagrams, etc. are used
demonstrating mastery
in the use of these tools.
Context, Audience
and Purpose
Percentage for this
criterion