Walden WMBA6040 2022 January Discussions Latest (Full)

WMBA-6040B/MMSL-6645/WMBA-6040/MGMT-6645

WMBA6040 Improving Business Performance

Week 1 Discussion

What Is a System? And What Is Systems Thinking?

Donella Meadows, the pioneer of systems thinking and author of Thinking in Systems: A Primer, defines a system as “an interconnected set of elements that is coherently organized in a way that achieves something. If you look at that definition closely for a minute, you can see that a system must consist of three kinds of things: elements, interconnections, and a function or purpose” (2008, p. 11). In this Discussion, you will identify systems within an organization and define what systems thinking means to you.

To prepare for this Discussion:

Consider an organization with which you are familiar. This can be a current or former employer. Then, using Meadows’s definition of a system, think about the various systems that make up this organization and the multiple elements within these systems.

After identifying some examples of systems within an organization, consider how you would define systems thinking.

By Day 3

Post an analysis of the use of systems thinking within an organization. In your analysis, do the following:

Provide a brief description of your selected organization.

Identify two examples of systems within the organization, including an explanation of the elements, interconnections, and purpose of each. (Remember: To be an actual system, all three features must be present.)

Provide a one-sentence definition for systems thinking. (Note: The intent is for you to provide a definition of what it means to you, not a formal definition.)

Refer to the Week 1 Discussion Rubric for specific grading elements and criteria. Your Instructor will use this grading rubric to assess your work.

Important Note About Discussion Rubrics: In the peer-to-peer engagement section of the Discussion, the focus of your posts and responses should be to promote quality interaction with your colleagues and Instructor, to further the dialogue on the particular topic, to deepen your mutual understanding of concepts, and to draw out new ideas. Although you are encouraged to provide support for ideas you bring in from other sources, which is appropriate for discourse within a master’s-level classroom, emphasis is placed on the quality of the engagement as noted in the Discussion rubrics, with 40% of your score based on your level of engagement in the ongoing conversation with your colleagues.

Read some of your colleagues’ postings.

 

WMBA-6040B/MMSL-6645/WMBA-6040/MGMT-6645

WMBA6040 Improving Business Performance

Week 2 Discussion

Moral Imagination

Most are familiar with Nestlé, one of the world’s largest food producers, whose marketing slogan is: “Good food, Good life.” On its website, the corporation states that its three main ambitions are helping children live healthier lives, improving livelihoods in communities, and striving for zero environmental impact (Nestlé, n.d.). These are commendable goals that generated considerable positive publicity; however, recent allegations and court proceedings have suggested that the company may not actually be achieving those ambitions. Nestlé has been accused of using child labor in its cocoa supply chain in Western Africa, using forced slave labor in its seafood supply chains in Southeast Asia, and overusing diverted water from a national forest in drought-stricken California (Singh, 2021). These allegations illustrate that—even when companies adopt policies to promote ethical behavior—serious lapses can occur.

To prepare for this Discussion:

Review the article titled “Mental Models, Moral Imagination and System Thinking in the Age of Globalization” (located in this week’s Learning Resources) and think about how organizations apply these models.

Consider an organization with which you are familiar. This can be a current or former employer. Focus specifically on the organization’s ethics and sustainability policies, practices, and goals, and identify one issue you think the organization should improve upon with regard to its moral imagination and action.

By Day 3

Positive Social Change IconPost a synthesis of how your selected organization could use a moral imagination framework to address issues and create positive social change. In your synthesis, do the following:

Briefly describe your selected organization and identify one issue the organization should improve upon with respect to its moral imagination and action. Provide a rationale.

Explain how Werhane’s moral imagination framework could be applied to the issue you identified to help create positive social change within the organization or its stakeholder context.

Refer to the Week 2 Discussion Rubric for specific grading elements and criteria. Your Instructor will use this grading rubric to assess your work.

Read some of your colleagues’ postings.

By Day 5

Respond to two or more of your colleagues’ posts in one or more of the following ways:

Compare your organizational issue to that of your colleague and draw any connections between their suggested use of the moral imagination framework and yours.

Provide an insight you gained by reviewing your colleague’s example.

Ask a probing question supported by additional context from your experience and the readings from the week.

Return to this Discussion in a few days to read the responses to your initial posting. Note what you have learned or any insights you have gained as a result of the comments your colleagues made.

 

WMBA-6040B/MMSL-6645/WMBA-6040/MGMT-6645

WMBA6040 Improving Business Performance

Week 3 Discussion

Detail and Dynamic Complexity

Are you overwhelmed by complexity? If so, you are not alone. Peter Senge notes that people are now able to “create far more information that anyone can absorb,” and he continues to say that the “scale of complexity is without precedent” (2006, p. 69). This “detail” complexity can make managing a business and making informed decisions particularly difficult. Additionally, because organizations do not operate in a vacuum, they are invariably dealing with dynamic complexity. A company that attracts new customers with an innovative product will likely find itself facing many competitors with a similar offering. The market changes as a result of the new product, and the competitive response further changes the market. These shifting dynamics constitute the world in which most managers operate.

To prepare for this Discussion:

As you review Senge’s Chapter 5, “A Shift of Mind,” consider his descriptions of detail complexity and dynamic complexity.

Then think about organizations with which you are familiar. The organizations could be businesses, nonprofits, government agencies, or current or former employers. Think about examples of detail complexity and dynamic complexity at these organizations. Choose at least two organizations for this week’s Discussion.

By Day 3

Post an analysis of detail and dynamic complexity on systems performance within organizations. In your analysis, include the following:

Provide a brief overview of the organizations you chose.

Using two or more examples from your selected organizations, illustrate important elements of detail complexity and dynamic complexity within their systems and explain the impacts (both positive and negative) of such complexities.

Refer to the Week 3 Discussion Rubric for specific grading elements and criteria. Your Instructor will use this grading rubric to assess your work.

Read some of your colleagues’ postings.

By Day 5

Respond to two or more of your colleagues’ posts in one or more of the following ways:

Provide a different or expanded perspective by offering an insight that you gained by reading your colleague’s conclusions.

Ask a question that will help your colleague think about their comparisons and conclusions more deeply or broadly. Make sure you provide context and/or references based on the class readings, your own investigation, or your experience.

Provide an example that further illuminates complexity in organizations and compare it to what your colleague presented.

Return to this Discussion in a few days to read the responses to your initial posting. Note what you have learned or any insights you have gained as a result of the comments your colleagues made.

 

WMBA-6040B/MMSL-6645/WMBA-6040/MGMT-6645

WMBA6040 Improving Business Performance

Week 4 Discussion

The Rise and Demise of the Innovative Entrant

System archetypes describe and illustrate common patterns or common behaviors that occur within organizations (Braun, 2002). These archetypes can be utilized as effective tools in two main ways, first, as a diagnostic tool to identify and understand the underlying systemic issues and, secondly, as a planning tool to test the systemic effects of a proposed change. By recognizing the presence of the systems archetype, managers can better understand fundamental solutions in improving business performance.

To prepare for this Discussion:

Read and review the case study Rise and Demise of the Innovative Entrant:

Landel, R. D. & Timoshin, D. (2001, March 8). Rise and demise of the innovative entrant. Darden Business Publishing. http://hbr.org

Review, as needed, the following resource: How to Analyze a Business Case Study (PDF)

Consider the systems archetypes that Senge reviews in Chapter 6, “Nature’s Templates: Identifying the Patterns that Control Events.” Review the articles “Towards the Definition and Use of a Core Set of Archetypal Structures in System Dynamics” and “The System Archetypes” (located in this week’s Learning Resources) to view examples of the use of archetypes to analyze business problems.

 

 

WMBA-6040B/MMSL-6645/WMBA-6040/MGMT-6645

WMBA6040 Improving Business Performance

Week 5 Discussion

A Study of Mental Models

Peter Senge (2006) describes a mental model as a “deeply engrained assumption, generalizations, or even pictures or images that influence how we understand the world and how we take action” (p. 8). People with a different mental model can see the same issue or event and describe it completely differently, as seen in the Sufi parable of The Blind Men and the Elephant. In this tale, there are six blind men examining an elephant for the very first time. Each develops a very different mental model of what an elephant is. The following is a summary of the story:

Six blind men encountered an elephant for the first time. Each inspected the elephant by touching it. They then described it based on what they felt. The first person touched the elephant’s trunk and said, “This animal is like a snake.” The next, whose hand touched the elephant’s ear, claimed it is like a rug. The third person, whose hand touched its leg, said, “The elephant is a like a tree.” The fourth, who placed his hand upon its side, said “This is a wall.” The fifth, who felt its tail, described the elephant as a rope. The last felt its tusk, stating the elephant is hard, smooth, and shaped like a spear.

To prepare for this Discussion:

Review the resources in the Mental Models area of this week’s Learning Resources.

Consider some of the mental models that you have and some that you have seen in others in your professional or personal life.

By Day 3

Post an analysis of the impact of individual perceptions on problem solving and decision making. In your analysis, do the following:

Describe at least two mental models that you personally have that differ from those of a colleague, family member, or friend.

Examine how these mental models have affected your interactions with your colleague, family member, or friend and what actions you took or could have taken to address these differences.

Explain how understanding mental models can help you become a better problem solver and decision maker.

Refer to the Week 5 Discussion Rubric for specific grading elements and criteria. Your Instructor will use this grading rubric to assess your work.

Read some of your colleagues’ postings.

By Day 5

Respond to two or more of your colleagues’ posts in one or more of the following ways:

Relate your own experiences with mental models and their effect on your interactions with others to what your colleague shared.

Provide a different or expanded perspective by offering an insight that you gained by reading your colleague’s conclusions.

Ask a question that will help your colleague think about their conclusions more deeply or broadly. Make sure you provide context and/or references based on the class readings, your own investigation, or your experience.

Return to this Discussion in a few days to read the responses to your initial posting. Note what you have learned or any insights you have gained as a result of the comments your colleagues made.

 

WMBA-6040B/MMSL-6645/WMBA-6040/MGMT-6645

WMBA6040 Improving Business Performance

Week 6 Discussion

The Goal—Part 1

According to The Foundation for Critical Thinking (n.d.), “[c]ritical thinking is that mode of thinking—about any subject, content, or problem—in which the thinker improves the quality of [their] thinking by skillfully analyzing, assessing, and reconstructing it.” As a manager, much of your work requires analyzing complex situations, which, in turn, requires critical thinking skills. For example, you may be presented with information, but you may need to decide if that information is relevant, if it is accurate, or if the sources it cites are credible. If a company leader forwards an article to you and asks you if the claims are valid, you may take steps such as identifying any biases or incorrect assumptions found within it.

This week, and continuing into Weeks 7 and 8, you will be using your critical thinking skills to analyze business issues from the business novel The Goal. You will analyze the relevance of systems thinking concepts described in the book to effective business practices.

To prepare for this Discussion:

Read pages 1–123 (Chapters 1–16) of The Goal.

As you read this part of the book, consider passages that contain ideas that you find compelling and particularly relevant to effective business management. You will select at least three passages to discuss this week.

In addition, consider how understanding these concepts might have influenced your past decision making.

By Day 3

Post your analysis of The Goal to include the following:

Identify three or more short passages from this week’s assigned reading in The Goal that contain one or two essential ideas that you found compelling, and explain why each passage you chose is relevant to and important in effective business management. Be sure to include the citation for each passage in your explanation.

(Note: This section of The Goal outlines the various performance problems that the Bearington plant is having, so feel free to practice your systems thinking skills to explain why the plant is having such difficulties.)

Then, reflect on and complete this statement based on your own experience: “If I had only known this back when…”

Refer to the Week 6 Discussion Rubric for specific grading elements and criteria. Your Instructor will use this grading rubric to assess your work.

Read some of your colleagues’ postings.

By Day 5

Respond to two or more of your colleagues’ posts in one or more of the following ways:

Provide an insight you gained from the passages your colleague found compelling or from another example from the book.

Ask a clarifying question about your colleague’s analysis, either of the concept from the book or of their reflection on past experiences.

Return to this Discussion in a few days to read the responses to your initial posting. Note what you have learned or any insights you have gained as a result of the comments your colleagues made.

 

WMBA-6040B/MMSL-6645/WMBA-6040/MGMT-6645

WMBA6040 Improving Business Performance

Week 7 Discussion

The Goal—Part 2

Through the lens of the business novel The Goal, you have been following many characters, complex business issues, and various management methodologies proposed for correcting problems. In choosing to write a novel, the authors are able to explore abstract concepts in an informative and accessible format. In effect, they are comparing and contrasting strategies in a realistic setting, rather than presenting their argument in an academic article. This format helps meet the intent of the Discussions for this module, in which you can relate the concepts of this book to your experiences and understanding of the business world.

This week is a continuation from Week 6, in which you used critical thinking skills to analyze business issues from the business novel The Goal. You will analyze the relevance of systems thinking concepts described in the book to effective business practices.

To prepare for this Discussion:

Read pages 124–236 (Chapters 17–28) of The Goal.

As you read this part of the book, consider passages that contain ideas that you find compelling and particularly relevant to effective business management. You will select at least three passages to discuss this week.

In addition, consider how understanding these concepts might have influenced your past decision making.

By Day 3

Post your analysis of The Goal, to include the following:

Identify three or more short passages from this week’s assigned reading in The Goal that contain one or two essential ideas that you found compelling, and explain why each passage you chose is relevant to and important in effective business management. Be sure to include the citation for each passage in your explanation.

(Note: A theme you can focus on this week is explaining why the techniques that the team are implementing are working, as well as how “breaking the rules” in this case makes sense from a systems performance perspective.)

Then, reflect on and complete this statement based on your own experience: “If I had only known this back when…”

Refer to the Week 7 Discussion Rubric for specific grading elements and criteria. Your Instructor will use this grading rubric to assess your work.

Read some of your colleagues’ postings.

By Day 5

Respond to two or more of your colleagues’ posts in one or more of the following ways:

Provide an insight you gained from the passages your colleague found compelling or from another example from the book.

Ask a clarifying question about your colleague’s analysis, either of the concept from the book or of their reflection on past experiences.

Return to this Discussion in a few days to read the responses to your initial posting. Note what you have learned or any insights you have gained as a result of the comments your colleagues made.

 

WMBA-6040B/MMSL-6645/WMBA-6040/MGMT-6645

WMBA6040 Improving Business Performance

Week 8 Discussion

The Goal—Part 3

This week is a continuation from Week 6 and Week 7, in which you used critical thinking skills to analyze business issues from the business novel The Goal. You will analyze the relevance of systems thinking concepts described in the book to effective business practices.

To prepare for this Discussion:

Read pages 237–337 (Chapters 29–40) of The Goal.

As you read this part of the book, consider passages that contain ideas that you find compelling and particularly relevant to effective business management. You will select at least three passages to discuss this week.

Consider how management challenges were often misunderstood because some managers could not see beyond their own paradigms. Think about how some of the most effective actions focused on the system, and the policy constraints, rather than the immediate, local issues.

In addition, consider how understanding these concepts might have influenced your past decision making.

By Day 3

Post your analysis of The Goal, to include the following:

Identify three or more short passages from this week’s assigned reading in The Goal that contain one or two essential ideas that you found compelling, and explain why each passage you chose is relevant to and important in effective business management. Be sure to include the citation for each passage in your explanation.

Then, reflect on and complete this statement based on your own experience: “If I had only known this back when…”

Refer to the Week 8 Discussion Rubric for specific grading elements and criteria. Your Instructor will use this grading rubric to assess your work.

Read some of your colleagues’ postings.

By Day 5

Respond to two or more of your colleagues’ posts in one or more of the following ways:

Provide an insight you gained from the passages your colleague found compelling or from another example from the book.

Ask a clarifying question about your colleague’s analysis, either of the concept from the book or of their reflection on past experiences.

Return to this Discussion in a few days to read the responses to your initial posting. Note what you have learned or any insights you have gained as a result of the comments your colleagues made.