Week 1

Module  1

Jan 8 - Jan 14

Course Introduction

Introduction to Systems Thinking

Read:

• Boardman & Sauser, Ch 1
• Senge, Ch 1

Take the Class Survey

Participate in "Introduce Yourself" Discussion

Take the Syllabus Quiz

Jan 14

Week 2

Module 2

Jan 15 - Jan 21

Introduction to System Concepts

Read:

• Systems Thinking Foundational Concepts (Page)
• Boardman & Sauser, Ch 2
• Senge, Ch 2 & 3

Complete Assignment "Systems Thinking in Healthcare" 

Complete Assignment "Applying the Lessons of the Beer Game"  

Complete Assignment "Harmony in Systems Thinking"

Jan 21

Week 3

Module 3

Jan 22 - Jan 28

More System Concepts and the Laws of the Fifth Discipline

Read:

• Systems Thinking Foundational Concepts (Part 2)
• Boardman & Sauser, Ch 3
• Senge, Ch 4
• Page on using the UCF Library
• Article on Systems Thinking

Complete the assignment on the Systems Thinking Article

Participate in a discussion on the Laws of the Fifth Discipline.

Jan 28

Week 4

Module 4

Jan 29 - Feb 4

System Dynamics - Part 1

System Modeling

Introduction to Insight Maker

Read:

• Introduction to System Dynamic Concepts (Page)
• Boardman & Sauser, Ch 4 (4.1.1 & 4.1.2)
• Senge, Ch 5

Assignment:

• Complete the System Dynamic Tutorial
• Complete the Causal Loop Diagram Exercise - Part 1

Feb 4

Week 5

Module 5

Feb 5 - Feb 11

System Archetypes

System Modeling /

System Dynamics - Part 2

Read:

• Boardman & Sauser, Ch 4 (4.1.3)
• Senge, Ch 6 & 7
• Introduction to System Archetypes

Assignment:

• Submit Last week's Causal Loop Diagram Exercise - Part 1
• Complete the Causal Loop Diagram Exercise - Part 2
• Complete the "Applying System Archetypes" Assignment

Feb 11

Week 6

Module 6

Feb 12 - Feb 18

Soft Systems Methodology (SSM) 

Read:

• Boardman & Sauser, Ch 5
• Read about Story Telling in InsightMaker
• Read Additional Reading on SSM

Assignment:

• Complete the SSM Supplemental Reading & Assignment
• Extra Credit:  Applying Systems Thinking onto Emergency Response Planning

Feb 18

Week 7

Module 7

Feb 19 - Feb 25

More on SSM, System Modeling & Systemigrams

Read:

• Boardman & Sauser, Ch 6
• Systems Thinking & Systemigrams Supplemental Reading & Video
• SSM in Healthcare Supplemental Reading
• Supplemental:  Building Systemigrams in InsightMaker

Assignment:

• Complete Systemigram Model Building Exercise

Feb 25

Week 8

Module 8

Feb 26 - Mar 3

Introduction to the Final Project

Read:

• Final Project Overview

Assignment:

• Complete Meet your Project Team Assignment
• Complete Make Final Project Topic Selection and Begin Research Assignment

March 3

Week 9

Module 9

Mar 4 - Mar 10 

 Assignment:

• Complete Literature Review and Problem Narrative Assignment

March 10

Week 10

Mar 11 - Mar 17

Mental Models

Project: Root Definition for the Systematch up -- Spring Break

Read:

• Senge, Ch 9 - Mental Models

Assignment:

• Develop a Core Root Definition of the Generic System for Project

March 17

Week 11

Module 11

Mar 18 - Mar 24

Spring Break

Week 12

Module 12

Mar 25- Mar 31

Strategies and the Final Project Model Development

Read:

• Senge, Ch 14 - Strategies

Assignment:

• Develop Conceptual Action Model / Systemigram for Project

Mar 31

Week 13

Module 13

Apr 1 - Apr 7

Project Draft Refinement - First Draft Complete

Assignment:

• Review and Refine your Systemigram - Submit for Peer Review

April 7

Week 14

Module 14

Apr 8 - Apr 14

Project Peer Reviews

Assignment:

• Conduct a Peer Review for an Assigned Project

April 14

Week 15

Module 15

Apr 17 - Apr 23

Update Project per Peer Reviews

Course Epilogue

Assignment:

• Read Final Project Comments
• Read the Course Epilogue
• Complete End of Course Questionnaire
• Make final updates to the Project

April 23

Week 16

Module 16

Apr 24 - Apr 30

(FINALS WEEK)

Final Project Files Due

• Complete updates to the Final Project and Submit (due May 2)