Postgraduate Module Descriptor

POLM883DA: Systems Thinking in Theory and Practice

This module descriptor refers to the 2021/2 academic year.

Module Aims

The Systems Thinking in Theory and Practice module will help apprentices meet a range of skills (S1, S2, S3, S4, S7), knowledges (K1, K2, K3) and behaviours (B2, B3, B5, B6, B7, B8) implicit in the IATE Systems Thinking Practitioner standard.

Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs)
This module's assessment will evaluate your achievement of the ILOs listed here - you will see reference to these ILO numbers in the details of the assessment for this module.
On successfully completing the programme you will be able to:
Module-Specific Skills	1. Demonstrate a sound working knowledge of critical systems heuristics, and critical and reflective perspectives on the methods applicability, limits, and benefits as they pertain to system modelling and interventions. 2. Evidence a critical and detailed understanding of the applied critical systems heuristics method. 3. Analyse different options for designing a complex, ethical, and reflective systems intervention regime, inclusive of and evidencing critical consideration of different intervention methods. 4. Gather and analyse of a range of soft system data to deliver interventions, change and impact
Discipline-Specific Skills	5. Evidence a holistic and comparative understanding of the critical systems heuristics method within the wider school of soft systems methods. 6. Evidence a well-developed theoretical and practical understandings of the evaluation of systems interventions
Personal and Key Skills	7. Demonstrate reflexive skills and behaviours for critical self-reflection, personal development, and system design. 8. Explore and reflect upon personal biases, ethics, and beliefs as they pertain to systems and professional practice

Module Content

Syllabus Plan

Whilst the module’s precise content may vary from year to year, it is envisaged that the syllabus will cover some or all of the following topics:

Gregory Bateson’s philosophy
Boundary critique
Critical systems heuristics
The viable system model
Systemic intervention
Systemic evaluation

Learning and Teaching

This table provides an overview of how your hours of study for this module are allocated:

Scheduled Learning and Teaching Activities	Guided independent study	Placement / study abroad
22.5	67.5

...and this table provides a more detailed breakdown of the hours allocated to various study activities:

Category	Hours of study time	Description
Scheduled Learning & Teaching activities	22.5	Masterclasses: The masterclasses are where apprentices are given day length teaching and learning, contextualised through practical group exercises
Guided Independent Study	67.5	Weekly study sessions: A day per week spent on guided, independent, group and informational sessions to enhance, contextualise, and practice the learnings from masterclasses

Online Resources

This module has online resources available via ELE (the Exeter Learning Environment).