Postgraduate Module Descriptor

POLM883DA: Systems Thinking in Theory and Practice

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

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).

Indicative Reading List

This reading list is indicative - i.e. it provides an idea of texts that may be useful to you on this module, but it is not considered to be a confirmed or compulsory reading list for this module.

Ulrich, W., & Reynolds, M. (2020). Critical systems heuristics: The idea and practice of boundary critique. In Systems approaches to making change: A practical guide (pp. 255-306). Springer, London.
Espinosa, A., & Walker, J. (2017). Complexity Approach to Sustainability, A: Theory And Application (Vol. 5). World Scientific.