SEMESTER 1 2023/24
GROUP COURSEWORK BRIEF:
Module Code: MANG6515 Assessment: Group coursework Weighting: 100%
Module Title: Managing Complexity, Uncertainty and Subjectivity
Module Leader: Dr J. H. Klein
Submission Due Date: @ 16:00 Tuesday, 30th January 2024 Word Count/Duration: 3,000 words
Method of
Submission:
Electronic via Blackboard Turnitin ONLY (You are not required to submit a hard copy)
(Please ensure that your name does not appear on any part of your work)
Any work submitted after 16:00 on the deadline date will be subject to the standard University late penalties (see
below), unless an extension has been granted, in writing by the Senior Tutor, in advance of the deadline.
University Working Days Late: Mark:
1 (final agreed mark) * 0.9
2 (final agreed mark) * 0.8
3 (final agreed mark) * 0.7
4 (final agreed mark) * 0.6
5 (final agreed mark) * 0.5
More than 5 0
This assessment relates to the following module learning outcomes:
A. Knowledge and understanding: having successfully completed the module, you will know about and understand:
A1: a variety of problem structuring methods and their use within organisations.
B. Subject Specific Intellectual and Research Skills: having successfully completed the module, you will be able to:
B1: evaluate the suitability of methods for problem structuring and solving and their use within organisations.
C. Transferable and Generic Skills: having successfully completed the module, you will be able to:
C1: use team-work skills;
C2: use problem structuring and solving skills;
C3: use qualitative modelling skills;
C4: use systems thinking skills;
C5: use, at a basic level of competence, a variety of problem structuring methods;
C6: participate actively in the facilitation and management of change in organisations. 3
Group Coursework Brief:
You should be aware that all members of your group share responsibility for any academic integrity
breaches or other issues that may arise from your group’s coursework submission. PLEASE NOTE THAT ONLY
ONE MEMBER OF THE GROUP SHOULD SUBMIT THE ASSIGNMENT TO BLACKBOARD TURNITIN.
Please read this brief fully and carefully!
Your group should consist of four, five or six students on the module. You may select your own groups. If you
would like to be allocated to a group, please let the module leader know by 5th December 2023 (but
preferably sooner!). Groups who have selected their own members should let the module leader know of
their members by 12th December 2023.
This coursework is intended to be undertaken by groups of students. You are strongly advised to meet as a
group to undertake the work together. Face-to-face meetings are best; online meetings are likely
to be less
effective. Several meetings will probably be necessary.
SEMESTER 1 2023/24
1. Your group should identify an ill-structured area or problem of concern which is suitable for exploring
using Soft Systems Methodology (SSM). Provide a description of the problem which sets out its main
features: its structure, and the issues and dilemmas it raises. A diagram (or “rich picture”) may help. [10
marks]
You should pick an area or problem of concern which is ill-structured. The area or problem of concern should
be original: it should not be similar to any other which has been used in a submission to this or a similar
module. Experience suggests that an exercise of this kind is more successful (and more enjoyable and
interesting too) if the area or problem of concern is real, and of personal meaning to your group, rather
than an invented problem, or one in which you have little or no personal interest or stake. It is strongly
recommended that you discuss your choice of problem area with the Module Leader.
2. Develop a set of varied root definitions (at least three root definitions) of systems of interest within the
overall problem area. Explain why you have chosen these particular root definitions. [20 marks]
Each root definition should be centred on a transformation which is relevant to the area you have chosen
and is in some way problematic or of concern. Aim for a varied and interesting set of root definitions: for
example, both primary-task and issue-based root definitions. You may find that it makes sense that one root
definition focuses on a transformation that is implicitly part of the transformation of another of your root
definitions.
3. Construct activity models (also known in the literature as “conceptual models”) of at least three of these
root definitions. [20 marks]
If you have formulated more than three root definitions, then choose a varied and interesting selection of
them to model. Avoid anticipating specific solutions in your models – stick to the generalised necessary
activities that are required to carry out the transformation as expressed in the corresponding root definition.
4. For each of the activity models you have constructed (or for at least three if you have constructed more
than three), specify criteria of efficacy, efficiency and effectiveness of the transformation represented in the
model. [10 marks]
Criteria for an activity model should be chosen so that you could use them to measure the efficacy (it does
what it’s supposed to do), efficiency (it’s economic with resources) and effectiveness (it achieves or
contributes to its higher purpose) of the overall process described by the activity model.