Duration
2 days
Course Outline
This workshop is intended for managers and executives in technical and non-technical who regularly or occasionally face disruptive and recurring issues in project and/or operation work.
Systems thinking is a branch of strategic thinking skills to look at the holistic picture of interacting systems and interactions. A system is an interconnected set of elements that is coherently organised in a way that achieves something. The conventional wisdom of fixing one entity may impair other entities within a dynamic system. Having a good grasp of systems thinking and using visualisation tools like Causal Loop Diagramming and Stock and Flow System Dynamics Simulation can uncover even unknown causes of project and operation work-related issues that need to be fixed.
Provide
This workshop is carefully designed to provide the best mix of experience, theory and practice in an adult learning environment. Formal presentations are used mainly to introduce key concepts and significant elements of systems thinking are used to model the “problem” landscape. Emphasis is on practical applications through “hands on” action learning of the 5’S’ Method.
Method To Understand Current Issues And Overcoming Them
Progressing through the 5’S’ Method, participants will be able to explain to management where most issues they face are the direct result of a previously efficient system that has grown inefficient through time with the procedure and policy “add-ons” over the period. The system needs a re-tuning.
The above figure is called a Causal Loop Diagram (CLD) which helps to model the systemic interactions and identify hotspots like the Reinforcing Loops indicated by (R) that are hopefully counteracted by Balancing Loops (B) – this is one of several tools and techniques that will allow participants to generate their own CLDs of their workplace systems and understand the underlying issues; and policies and procedures that are in place may cause undesirables in other areas.
To make this workshop a success, an elevated level of workshop participation is required. Maximum opportunities will be given to participants to inject their own examples and issues into the workshop and continually relate the material to their own contexts. Scenarios of project stakeholder conflicts, and ways to resolve system inefficiencies are taught, but the participants will be the ones providing the solutions.
Participants are encouraged to bring their project and/or operation work-related issues to the session. The appreciation of systems dynamics and thinking will be used to help participants better understand the current situation in their work by reflecting on their existing practices and mental models. Ample case studies, examples and interactive individual/group exercises are provided.
Objectives
- To get the participants to understand the systems and interactions their work operates under.
- To get the participants to identify the reinforcing loops and balancing loops existing in their work system to see if they perform correctly or if not, looking for ways to improve efficiency and remove bottlenecks, conflict areas and future trouble hotspots.
At the end of the workshop, participants will be able to:
- Have a comprehensive understanding of the 5’S’ Method from Systems Thinking to developing strategies and solutions.
- Put a stop to recurring work-related issues that never seem to stay away.
- Leverage the system points to achieve the effectiveness and efficiency that the system was originally designed for.
Course Outline
Workshop: Day 1
Date
Time
Topic/Session
Delivery Method
8.45 - 10.30 am
System Dynamics Background
- Seeing in a larger system rather than individual entities reacting to inside and outside forces
- Seeing interrelationships rather than things
- Seeing patterns of change rather than events
- Seeing the structures that underlie complex situations
- Discussion
- Role-play game
- Videos
10.30 - 10.45 am
Tea Break
10.45 - 1.00 pm
Systems Thinking Iceberg
- Mental Models – what are our beliefs? Are ours relevant?
- Underlying Structures – what do we see ours like?
- Pattern – what trends do we over time?
- Event – what had just happened?
Group discussion
Group project activities
1.00 - 2.00 pm
Lunch
2.00 - 3.30 pm
Applying the 5’S’ Method
- 01: Get Scenarios – obtain current work scenarios at the workplace, list the deficiencies and problem areas
Group discussion
Group project activities
3.30 - 3.45 pm
Tea Break
3.45 - 5.30 pm
Applying the 5’S’ Method
- 02: Systems Thinking – draw a Causal Loop Diagram (CLD) of the current scenarios to visualise supporting and opposing interactions in loops
- Understand the chaotic effects of memory accumulation and delays have on a system
Group discussion
Group project activities
Workshop: Day 2
Date
Time
Topic/Session
Delivery Method
8.45 - 10.30 am
Applying the 5’S’ Method
- 03: Develop Strategies – pinpoint areas of concern in balancing and reinforcing CLD loops and develop strategies to remove issue hotspots and ways to leverage the system points
Group discussion
Group project activities
10.30 - 10.45 am
Tea Break
10.45 - 1.00 pm
Applying the 5’S’ Method
- 04: Perform Simulations – quantitative CLDs can be modelled and simulated using a web-based Insight Maker system dynamics simulator
- Observe the simulated outputs if they correspond with the developed strategies, and adjust strategies when necessary
- For qualitative CLDs, a mental “what-if” simulated scenario approach is used
Group discussion
Group project activities
1.00 - 2.00 pm
Lunch
2.00 - 3.30 pm
Applying the 5’S’ Method
- 05: Provide Solutions – test the robustness of the developed strategies and simulations, conduct sensitivity analysis tests until confident
Group discussion
Group project activities
3.30 - 3.45 pm
Tea Break
3.45 - 5.30 pm
Putting It All Together
- Present the 5’S’ Method findings and resolutions into a working paper
- Determine what went well, what went bad in existing scenarios, how and why.
- Recognise the coaching opportunities to peers to help them appreciate thinking in systems, and in turn get their ownership to bring to fruition your efforts to “tune” the system
- Group discussion
Group project activities
GroupPresentation & Assessment
Training Approach
The training uses practical exercises that take individuals outside their comfort zones. By giving the participants help and guidance during the process, confidence and skills are strengthened. We make the sessions challenging and practical through the use of role-play, experiential learning and group exercises.
The tempo of the training is light-hearted and fast-paced. Our experience suggests that this makes people actually look forward to attending our training sessions and reinforces the motivational effects. Peer group pressure, structure and relaxed atmosphere are the key elements to the success of our workshops.
Who Can Benefit
Managers and executives who are directly involved in planning, estimating, scheduling, monitoring (tracking), and measuring, and reporting the implementation progress of projects and operations.
Programme scope, delivery arrangements and suitability are confirmed during enquiry.