94702 Thinking Complexly: Beyond Problem Solving
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Credit points: 3 cp
Result type: Grade, no marks
There are course requisites for this subject. See access conditions.
Description
In this subject, participants use examples from their own professional domains to develop ways to recognise, think, communicate, and act within complex systems. Approaching problems and opportunities from the standpoint of complexity enables a move beyond the problem-solving paradigm. Using this complexity approach, participants refocus their attention on how to co-create ecosystems of flexible strategic innovators within and across institutional contexts.
Teaching and learning strategies
This core subject is offered in a flipped learning mode. Participants undertake self-paced study online to examine theories that cut across disciplines, industries and sectors. They critically analyse and apply conceptual frameworks and theoretical approaches to inform their professional practice and generate insights about future developments within their fields. By doing so, they gain advanced knowledge of transdisciplinary innovation concepts and approaches. Strategically positioned face-to-face sessions immerse participants in interactive learning with professional colleagues and academic researchers (including ongoing feedback) and further hands-on engagement with concepts, frameworks and methods. Participants use these opportunities to review and adjust their learning study plan in consultation with tutors and deepen their individual inquiry as they work towards ensuring continued relevance for their professional practice.
Content (topics)
Our topics will include:
- How systems thinking and mapping techniques improve and enrich the way we understand our situations.
- How complexity emerges from otherwise-simple interactions among diverse elements that comprise our situations.
- Why complexity gives rise to “wicked problems”, and why traditional problem-solving is ill-suited for complex situations.
- The role of reductionist and holistic thinking in both understanding and successfully navigating this complexity.
- How certain features of complex systems, that normally make them especially challenging, can be harnessed.
Assessment
Assessment task 1: Assessment 1: What is My Situation?
| Type: | Presentation |
|---|---|
| Groupwork: | Individual |
| Weight: | 30% |
| Length: | This assessment takes the form of an individual 5 minute presentation, in which you'll use a visual systems map to support your presentation. |
Assessment task 2: Assessment 2a: What is our situation?
| Type: | Presentation |
|---|---|
| Groupwork: | Group, group assessed |
| Weight: | 35% |
| Length: | This assessment takes the form of a group 15-20 minute presentation, in which you are invited to use visual aids to support your presentation. |
Assessment task 3: Assessment 2b: Reflecting again on your situation
| Type: | Reflection |
|---|---|
| Groupwork: | Individual |
| Weight: | 35% |
Minimum requirements
To pass this subject students must make a reasonable attempt to meet the expectations outlined in the brief of each assessment task, and achieve an overall pass grade for the subject.