Week Eight Blog

What are you learning about how to rapidly analyze systems and the level of complexity contained in each? How does the world of systems thinking differ from critical theory/thinking and emancipatory learning? Why? When is each appropriate? Do you view them as fundamentally separate? Are you comfortable with one versus the other? Which applies most in your work or future/intended work setting?

In-class discussions helped learning rapidly analyzing system. Group discussion was very useful to learn how to rapidly analyze system. I have realized that individualized learning in this course is not effective compare to group learning. There are many concepts that are hard to understand from reading. We analyzed meso system during rapid analyzing of Detropia system. Both environment and function structures models have been used in rapid analyzing of system. The level of analysis is highly complex but it is getting easier day by day from the in-class discussion. After completing the task one micro-system analysis this meso system analysis became little bit easier. Every system has sub-system and every sub-system has indefinite components and complex relationship with their environment. So, it is very hard to analyze a system completely over time. That is why it is important to identify a particular time to analyze a system.

I still do not deeply understand the difference between systems thinking and critical thinking. System thinking is much more complex than critical thinking. Critical thinking process involves analyzing a problem critically and finding a possible solution for that problem. Systems have indefinite sub-systems, its environment and relationship among its components makes it complex. System has boundary and boundary has many breaks. Changes of any environment factor impacts in output of a complex system. Environmental factors impact the system expectations and functions. System thinking process identify problem but not necessarily solve the problem. System thinking is time sensitive. Systems continuously change and evolve over time.

Critical systems theory brings a system thinking lens to help understanding the complex nature of a system and problem, while incorporating critical perspectives in both methodology and broader research objectives such as emancipation and social justice. Systems thinking entails identifying the components that make up a system, understanding relations between them, and how these components impact the larger system, external systems, and supra-systems, and vice versa (Watson and Watson, 2011, p. 63).

Hard systems thinking reflects positivist epistemology, and research methods focused on prediction and control within natural science. The hard systems approach strives to identify an “optimal” solution regardless of the differing opinion or values within the system. Soft systems thinking includes the cultural, psychological processes of human activity. Soft systems thinking does not seek for “one optimal solution” and seeks to facilitate a dialogue between individuals and decision makers in order to reach agreement (Jackson, 1982, cited in Watson and Watson, 2011). Incorporating critical theory into systems analysis emphasize the importance of recognizing issues of power, oppression, and emancipation in systems thinking. “The critical systems theory seeking to empower individuals and transforms society’s systems and their policies and processes that replicate oppression and injustice” (Denzin and Lincoln, 2011). Emancipation is one of the core principles of critical systems theory. Emancipatory values are important in social system wherein inequality of power exists in relation to opportunity, authority, and control.

I do view them as fundamentally separate but understanding is not crystal clear. As a problem solver I am comfortable toward critical thinking. I am comfortable applying critical thinking most in my daily job. When I will have more knowledge about system thinking I may apply in future work.

Watson, S. L., & Watson, W. R. (2011). Critical, emancipatory , and pluralistic research for education: A review of critical systems theory. Journal of Thought, Fall-Winte(1968), 63–77.

 

Week Seven Blog

Analysis of Detropia system

We learned about rapid analysis of Detropia as complex system. The analysis was done as group work using Banathy’s system-environment model lens. There were three groups with four members in each group. One member was selected as presenter to record each group discussion for presentation in class. Other three members discussed about Detropia system analysis. It was very helpful and bit easier as we have learned the fundamental aspect of system analysis from task one. Also, instructor has led excellent in-class discussions about the system analysis, critical system theory, and pattern recognition. My group was assigned to discuss about narrative of system and other two groups were assigned to draw the mind-maps.

In our group we used GoToTraining chat window to share our thought about Detropia analysis. There were five members in our group. One member facilitated the discussion and other member kept the time track. Occasionally we used microphone to discuss the topic. Analysis of Detropia based on Banathy’s environment-function lens was hard. We had to identify the image of the system, its different component, and relationship to it components, input, output, expectation to apply our own understanding of meso system analysis.

First we identified the image of the system. We thought the government is purposive but other systems are heuristic. We have identified the different sub-systems of Detropia and analyzed each sub-system. The purpose of the system is to provide its members the opportunity to fulfill the American dream. Transition city’s economy to a sustainable future without solely reliance on automobile industry. Regain a place of domestic and global competitor. Focus less on greed and profit and more on branding and benefit of the city as a whole. I admit that group discussions was very useful to understand and clarify complex concept of system, its components, functions, and relationship with different parts of components. I would not have been able to make my learning effective unless I was in this group discussion. Definitely group discussion has a positive impact on my learning. I think other members may have similar positive experience as well.

Our team members are responsible and cooperative. we had some issue first whether to use microphone or just chat option. But withing short time we decided to use chat mostly but microphone occasionally. So we all took part in discussions and contributed fairly to analyze the system. We always shared responsibilities and do the job as necessary. We had a good discussion as I felt our team members are strong and contributed from different perspectives. Then we have come to a consensus to write it down for sharing with other groups during in-class presentation. We have worked in a group project before and I am very pleased that all the groups that I worked with are very professional and team oriented. We trust each other since we worked together during previous semesters. I strongly expressed that our team work was very effective and efficient.

Other group created the mind-map. The mind map was nice and clear. The component, boundary, input and output were presented in mind-map. They did an excellent job to create the visual depict.

Week Six Blog

Write a reflection about what you learned about analyzing educational micro-systems from Task One.  What have you come to understand about the complexity of even simple systems? What have you learned about yourself as a learner and budding research analyst? How do you think you did on the Task? Why? What will you do differently in the future?

Micro-system analysis using Banathy’s Systems-Environment model was a challenge for me. This is the first time I have analyzed a system. It was a very complex task. I am still struggling to separate a micro system from the meso- and macro-system while analyzing a single system. Even though I used myself in the name of an employee micro-system my though got lost again and again. Sometimes I felt I was writing my resume and other time I felt I was describing the meso-system or the macro system. It was very hard to make the connection of human system to education system. How one system impacts the other systems. My understanding is still vague about system analysis. I still can’t picture it what the actual micro-system analysis should look like. It would have been helpful if the instructor was providing a model example of a system analysis to learn where the gap is. I could not comprehend my thought well to put it in writing to express my understanding about what I was trying to say. I have gotten frustrated and have felt exhausted.

I did enjoy reading about system complexity and chaos theory and learned the characteristics of complexity and chaos theory. I am trying to connect those to real life but micro-system analysis I felt there is no limit in the boundary. My understanding about the complexity of a simple system is very complex. Each system is closely interconnected with another system. There is no independent system. If one is impacted the other is impacted too. Each system is influenced by factors of system environment and general environments. The factors are indefinite in number and hence there is end of discussion about a simple system.

As a learner and budding research analyst I have learned that I need to build confidence in myself and continue to grow more in writing and analyzing. I feel I could do more but did not have time. I was not comfortable to analyze my own family factors and I dropped in in my analysis. The most uncomfortable feeling I had when I saw the similarity index. I absolutely felt embarrass when I saw my similarity index was more than expected. I have deleted lots of quoted materials and have rewritten most of the quotes and resubmitted next day. I hope Dr. Cox will accept it as first time. I will manage my time properly for next tasks.

Even though Banathy’s model was a guide for us to analyze a system, I do not think that I did an excellent job. I do think I did excellent in mind mapping the system but could not articulate in analyzing the system. Overall, I think I did a good job but only Dr. Cox can judge how good or bad I did. In future, I need to prepare myself well ahead of time so I can manage time efficiently. There was an expected time constraint affected my last day. I thought I will be able to complete it before Saturday as I knew I will not be able to use Saturday for my study. I did not want to make excuse in a PhD level study. I should have acted more responsively and proactively. I will remind myself next time to be more proactive and well organized.