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 The purpose of this two-day intensive program is to develop systems thinking skills for practical everyday use. Participants learn to assist work teams that need to understand complex problems together. The core competencies courses of the Graduate School, USDA provide a basic introduction to systems thinking, while this course delves more deeply into the subject.
Prerequisites
The program requires introductory reading, experience or course work in the field of Systems Thinking.
Program Objectives
Participants in this two-day systems thinking program
- Increase their skills for understanding the causes and dynamics of performance and phenomena (good and bad).
- Learn the vocabulary and diagramming for communicating about systems: causal diagramming, use of the system archetypes in practical settings, ability to use the systems thinking process in addressing complex work issues.
- Progress on current work issues through class exercises and group projects.
- Develop the ability to help work teams understand complex problems.
Additional Information
Peter Senge has brought the subject of systems thinking into popular awareness. The objective of systems thinking is to increase our understanding of how the world works and why things usually go the way they do. Through the use of specific tools and methods, participants gain a better understanding of the circular versus linear view of cause and effect chains. Where possible public sector work examples are used to illustrate the archetypes. As a discipline, systems thinking is approachable by all, can be taught and requires practice to achieve a level of competence.
Program Content
The program includes:
- A brief review of the systems thinking experience.
- A brief review of the disciplines of organizational learning, which are essential complements for systems thinking.
- A case example to illustrate the systems thinking method.
- A review of the essential tool "Events - Patterns - Structure" hierarchy.
- A review of the basic paradigm "Change causes change."
- An understanding of why we trace chains of cause and effect.
- "Thought Bubbles" - adding to our systems diagrams to illustrate the mental models that make the system operate the way it does.
- Exercises on "resource arithmetic to build a greater understanding of how resources are amassed and diminished gradually."
- A review of the system archetypes: fixes that backfire, shifting the burden, limits to success and other archetypes. Practice examples focus on current issues. Participants learn how to assess which archetypes might fit their case.
- An introduction of "Going Deeper" -- Questions will help you move from "understanding" toward "action" in our complex world.
- A review of systems thinking steps -- a process for examining situations from a systemic perspective.
- Case examples will be fully worked, to illustrate good practice in real settings.
- A practice session where groups will use a work problem to practice the full range of systems thinking tools, focusing on making progress on a real issue of current importance in a 2-6 hour exercise.
- Groups will present their work problem from a systems thinking viewpoint, including the presentation of diagrams.
Further References
- Systems Thinking and the other learning disciplines are well-documented in Peter Senge's books
The Fifth Discipline and The Fifth Discipline Fieldbook, and in various publications of Pegasus Communications
(www.pegasuscom.com).
- You should also refer to the Pegasus publication The Systems Thinker and to the Internet discussion on the Learning Organization hosted by our facilitator.
Program Materials
- Participants receive a course notebook that supports the class exercises.
- Participants also receive a PowerPoint file of "job aids."
Upcoming Session Information
Registration
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The Registration Materials should include the registration requested information and your payment documentation. If you are submitting an approved government training form -- SF-182, DD1556 or HHS 350 -- please assure that all of the necessary accounting information and signatures are in place.
Your registration will be confirmed when we have received credit card information or a signed faxed copy of the training form.
If you have questions regarding your registration contact the Graduate School at OLCCLDA@grad.usda.gov or (202) 314-3300.
Questions regarding the program and the course content can be addressed to OLCCLDA@grad.usda.gov.
Cancellations and Substitutions
Participants may withdraw up to two weeks before the course without penalty. Participants cancelling after two weeks prior to the class without a substitute will charged a $300 penalty fee.
Onsite Delivery
To schedule on-site delivery of this workshop contact the Graduate School's Center for Leadership and Management at (202) 314-3580 or by e-mail at
olcclda@grad.usda.gov.
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