Systems Thinking

Systems thinking, from a soft system's perspective, is an approach to understanding the complexity which exists within all large organizations.

Complexity arises as organizations try to solve problems or realize opportunities with multiple objectives, including the human dimension.

Managers are faced with the dilemma of meeting potentially conflicting objectives of different stakeholders: as a result of - complexity and wicked

or messy problems. These terms a situation where more than one interacting problems arise.

System's thinking from a soft system's methodology includes the human activity system (HAS) early on in the analysis. Systems thinking is about

how one balances the expectations of various stakeholders to achieve the required objectives, while at the same time making the system

purposeful, i.e. a system that is self- regulating. This course is how one manager's complexity and uncertainty in an unstructured environments

and at the same type creating self-regulating systems, moving towards a learning organization.OV

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Systems engineering is the evolving discipline that addresses the management of increasing

complexity. The objectives of the course is to use soft systems thinking as an approach to problem

solving/opportunity realization in a business context. The objective is to demonstrate to students how

soft systems thinking puts the HAS (Human activity system) as a focal point to address areas of

conflicting objectives. The approach is a soft systems approach focusing on the importance of the human dimension and how a systemic holistic approach

can lead to conflict resolution.

The course aims to give an in-depth coverage of Systems in the context of contemporary operations, the module addresses the scope, impact and

importance of systems engineering and the major decisions that need to be made in today's world of a globally connected organizations.

COURSE BENEFITS

COURSE OBJECTIVE

The course focuses on synthesis of management and scientific knowledge, providing students the ability to

critically gather data, interpret data and develop solutions to commercial ends. The course focuses on higher

level thinking; students are required to apply scientific knowledge, management knowledge and to develop

creative and out of the box thinking approaches to systems management.

ABILITY

DEVELOPMENT

COURSE OUTCOMESà Establish an understanding of basic systems and systems

engineering concepts and terms.

à Understanding systems engineering as a process and its

relationship to program management life cycles.

à Understand useful theories, models, techniques, and tools and

how these concepts relate to Soft systems methodologies.

à Develop an understanding of chaos theory and how this leads to

structured chaos.

à Develop and use systems thinking tools for strategy, operations

excellence, innovation, continuous improvement, etc.

DR. RA J SIRIRAM | PHONE: +27 82 894 6253 | WORK: +27 11 622 3549 | EMAIL: RA J@ALPHA-CONCEPTS.COM

NDVENUE: JASCO OFFICE PARK, CORNER ALEXANDRA AVENUE AND 2 STREET HALFWAY HOUSE MIDRAND, 1685

All personnel involved in leadership positions who are faced with making decisions in complex

environments. Typically personnel who are involved in change management, operations,

innovation and process improvement. Some examples include personnel involved in IT ,

supply chain management, HR, engineering, business process management, etc. Typically

personnel faced with complex decisions will benefit from this course.

TARGET AUDIENCE

CPD Validation No. SAIIE/ CPD/ T/ 04-15 CPD points 4AFFILIATE MEMBER

à Problem solving.

à Application of scientific and engineering techniques.

à Experiments, investigation and data analysis.

à Professional & technical communication.

à Individual team and multi-disciplinary work

à Independent learning ability

COURSE CONTENT

The course content encompasses at least the following:

1. Perspectives of systems and systems engineering.

2. History of the systems movement and introducing complexity.

3. System Concepts e.g. Root definitions, systems environment, system boundaries, rich and

naïve picture analysis, etc.

4. The seven management tools for rich picture building.

5. The nine management and planning tools.

6. System engineering management plans

7. Typical applications of Systems thinking using cross functional disciplines

8. Design challenge on Systems engineering.

9. Soft and hard systems analysis.

10. Systems Thinking a Total quality management.

11. Learning organizations and the futuristic view of the modern organization.

TEACHING AND LEARNING PROCESS

The course is a learning by doing course, students are given core material which they are expected to read and understand.

Several case studies are given, students are to work in groups and present their analysis of the case studies using the core

material discussed in class. The class is broken into groups depending on the number of students there are normally 3 to 4

groups of 5-8 students each. Students are given 4 to 7 case studies, which are to be worked through the duration of the course

over a Five day period. While one group presents the material normally a 20 minute presentation. The other groups are

required to critique the presentation thus creating a forum for debate and discussion. Students are also expected to submit a

final report one week after course completion for evaluation, which is worth 50% for both the three day and five day course

options.

TIME REQUIREMENTS

Lecture hours: 24 Hours

Lecture Self study: 12 Hours

Total time: 36 Hours

OTHER REQUIREMENTS

Proposed: NQF Level 8

Admission: Appropriate tertiary qualification & 5 years relevant work experience

ASSESSMENT CRITERIA

1. Class participation: 20%

2. Presentations: 30%

3. Final report 50%

Dr. Raj Siriram is Chief executive of Alpha concepts Pty (Ltd) a professional management andengineering consulting

company, previously Operations executive at Plessey a Dimension Data company, Chief Information Officer at

Dimension Data Middle East and Africa. He was also Divisional managing director at Siemens Ltd, Manufacturing

systems manager at GE, Manufacturing manager at Alsthom. He has a wide range of industrial experience from

business development, project management, Information technology, supply chain management, performance

management, business engineering and manufacturing. He has turned and grown many business’s over the last

15 years of his 25 year working experience. Raj has more than 10 years experience at executive level. He is also a sessional

lecturer at the University of the Witwatersrand. His research interests are in technology management, enterprise engineering,

project management and systems engineering. Raj is a registered with the engineering council of South Africa. He holds a Ph.D. in Industrial Engineering

from the University of Witwatersrand, In South Africa, School of Mechanical, Industrial and Aeronautical Engineering. He is also a member of the Institute

of Directors, South African Institute of Industrial Engineers, Institute of Industrial Engineers (US) and many other professional bodies.

AFFILIATE MEMBER

COURSE INSTRUCTOR

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Dr. Raj Siriram Chief Executive Alpha Concepts (Pty) Ltd.Email: raj.siriram@alpha-concepts.com

© All information remains the propery of Alpha Concepts (Pty Limited), Registration number 2012/147479/07

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