for mberiah

MGT347 Systems Management

Final Term Project Assignment

For this course you will complete a Final Term Project that consists of a Paper and PowerPoint

Presentation.

Final Term Project Paper:

Your paper will evaluate an organization of your choice based on the key concepts you will

study in this course. The organization you select will be one that you have worked for or where

you presently work. Using your evaluation of the company and the knowledge you’ve gained

during the course you will make recommendations on how your company’s systems can

transform and evolve into a learning based organization. Each week you will develop a separate

section of your paper and submit it as an assignment. Based on the feedback you receive for that

week’s assignment you are to make changes to your work and submit your revised sections in

Week 7 as your final paper. In addition, your final paper will include a substantial introduction

and conclusion. If you do not have experience working for an organization, please contact your

instructor.

Final Term Project Sections:

 Unit 1: Learning Organization

 Unit 2: Organization Learning Disabilities

 Unit 3: Organization System Laws

 Unit 4: Organization Causal Loop Diagram

 Unit 5: Organization System Archetypes

 Unit 6: Organization Shared Vision

 Unit 7: Organization Recommendations and Submission of Final Paper

 Unit 8: Final Project Presentation

Due Unit 1: Learning Organization

For the first section of your Term Project you are to write a 3 page paper, APA formatted. The

paper will include an effective Introduction and Conclusion. It will also include proper headings

and titles per APA guidelines.

In this section of your paper:

1. Explain what it means to be a learning organization 2. Describe why a learning organization is essential in a fast changing and complex world of

business

3. Describe the first steps to building a learning organization and 4. Analyze and discuss whether your company is a learning organization. Make sure you

support your claims with examples.

Due Unit 2: Organization Learning Disabilities

For the second section of your Term Project you are to write a 3 page paper, APA formatted.

The paper will include an effective introduction and conclusion. It will also include proper

headings and titles per APA guidelines.

Section II of your paper will address the following material for learning.

Research tells us that many of the companies that exist today at least half of these businesses will

fail. In most companies that fail, there is ample evidence that the business is in trouble. Many

times leaders fail to face reality; they know there are problems but ignore them. For those

leaders who recognize the danger the company is in they can’t grasp what it means to the

company. Senge believes that the reason organizations fail or operate at dismal levels of

performance is due to their inability to learn and apply this learning to create a learning

organizational culture. Senge (2010) argues that the, “ way they are designed and managed, the

way people’s jobs are defined , and, most importantly, the way we have all been taught to think

and interact (not only in organizations but more broadly) create fundamental learning

disabilities” (p.18).

When you think about your company and the seven learning disabilities discuss at least three

learning disabilities that you have noticed in your company. For each of the learning

disabilities- identify and define the learning disability, discuss how it is manifested in your

company’s actions, how it prevents you and your fellow employees to learn and what you would

do as a leader to fix the problem.

Due Unit 3: Organization System Laws

For the third section of your Term Project you are to write a 3 page paper, APA formatted. The

paper will include an effective Introduction and Conclusion. It will also include proper headings

and titles per APA guidelines.

Section III of your paper will address the following material for learning.

Senge (2010) provides the 11 laws of the Fifth Discipline. When you think about your company

what are 3 laws that you believe you have experienced. Identify each law, define it and describe

how you’ve experienced this law at work. Finally, discuss what you’ve learned from this law.

Due Unit 4: Organization Causal Loop Diagram

For the fourth section of your Term Project you are to write a 3 page paper, APA formatted. The

paper will include an effective Introduction and Conclusion. It will also include proper headings

and titles per APA guidelines.

Section IV of your paper will address the following material for learning.

Discuss an example of dynamic complexity that you’ve experienced at work (use a different

example than what you described in your discussion post. Describe the situation and the solution

that was implemented. Discuss the interrelationships between the major parts of this system.

Describe what the unintended consequences that were produced by the solution. Given the

effectiveness of the solution to solve the problem and the unintended consequences that resulted

was this the best solution that could have been implemented; support your answer? Draw a

causal loop diagram of this situation. Include balancing loops (make sure you discuss the role

the balancing loops play in your narrative). The goal of drawing your causal loop diagram is to

open your mind and think hard about all the factors that are at play in a system and how they

interact and influence one another. Credit is given for the effort demonstrated in creating a

diagram that is simple, at the same time, inclusive of the main components of the situation

described.

Due Unit 5: Organization System Archetypes

For the fifth section of your Term Project you are to write a 3 page paper, APA formatted. The

paper will include an effective Introduction and Conclusion. It will also include proper headings

and titles per APA guidelines.

Section V of your paper will address the following material for learning.

A system thinking perspective looks for certain patterns of structure that recur again and again.

Senge refers to these patterns as “systems archetypes”. Senge has identified eight system

archetypes that occur across a broad spectrum of life, including biology, economics, political

science, family therapy and management. Senge argues that mastering the system archetypes

puts an organization on the path of system thinking.

When you think about your company what are 3 of the most common system archetypes that you

experience. Identify each archetype, define it and describe how you’ve experienced it. Also,

discuss what potential solutions to stop this pattern from reoccurring and what the outcome

would be if this archetype no longer existed.

Due Unit 6: Organization Shared Vision

For the sixth section of your Term Project you are to write a 2 page paper, APA formatted. The

paper will include an effective Introduction and Conclusion. It will also include proper headings

and titles per APA guidelines.

Section VI of your paper will address the following material for learning.

Discuss your company’s vision. Describe if the actions of your company are in alignment with

its vision; support your answer with examples. Discuss if your company’s vision is shared with

that of its employees; support your answer with examples. If you don’t believe the company’s

vision is shared among its employees discuss what needs to happen to develop a “shared vision”.

If you believe your company’s vision is shared among its employees discuss why you believe

your claim is true; provide examples to support your answer.

Due Unit 6: Organization Recommendations & Final Paper Submission

For the seventh section of your Term Project you will write recommendations (4 pages) for your

organization. You will add the recommendations section to the other sections you have already

completed in Units 1-6. Be sure to use the feedback provided by your instructor to improve upon

what you submitted in Units 1-6 before submitting your final term project paper. Your final

paper should include an effective introduction and conclusion, proper headings, and titles per

APA guidelines.

Section VII of your paper will address the following material for learning.

Using the past six weeks assignments analyze your company as a leaning organization and

discuss your assessment. Discuss the challenges that your company would face moving to a

learning organization. And, discuss the application of eight strategies that would help your

business transform into a learning organization.

See rubric on next page for grading criteria for each section of the Final Term Project Paper.

CRITERIA Deficient (0 - 5 Points)

Proficient (6 – 8 Points)

Exemplary (9 - 10 Points)

Points Earned

1 Overview of the topic.

Does not provide an adequate introduction and conclusion or is missing.

Introduction and conclusion are included, though they may not be clear or complete.

Introduction and conclusion are included using all criteria outlined in assignment.

2 Clear and professional writing and format

Errors impede professional presentation; assignment criteria not followed.

Few errors that do not impede professional presentation; assignment criteria mostly followed.

Writing and format is clear, professional, APA compliant, and error free; assignment criteria followed.

3 Main Concepts

Does not include any, or few, of the main concepts and requirements

Includes some to most of the main concepts and requirements and cites few to many examples to illustrate each concept

Includes all of the main concepts and requirements and cites multiple examples to illustrate each concept

4 Inquiry and Analysis

Does not provide in-depth analysis and concepts are not applied in correctly.

Provides in-depth analysis with relevant application of concepts that demonstrates complete understanding of minimal concepts. or Provides in-depth analysis with relevant application of concepts that demonstrates complete understanding of some of the concepts.

Provides in-depth analysis with relevant application of concepts that demonstrates complete understanding of multiple concepts.

5 Evidence Does not incorporate or use scholarly resources in a relevant manner.

Includes few scholarly resources that are used in an effective and relevant manner.

Includes many scholarly resources that are used in an effective and relevant manner.

6 Critical Thinking

Does not draw logical conclusions.

Draws logical conclusions, but does not defend with evidence.

Draws insightful conclusions that are thoroughly defended with evidence and examples.

Total Points: