ARAB OPEN UNIVERSITY

FACULTY OF BUSINESS STUDIES

T205B – SYSTEMS’ THINKING THEORY & PRACTICE
2017/2018 SEMESTER II

T205 B - TMA- Semester II - 2017– 2018

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Introduction

This TMA has one question with three parts. You should answer them all. The questions in
this assignment are all about different aspects of the process of exploring a complex
situation: drawing different kinds of maps of it, recognizing how complex it is, identifying
the different perspectives it can be viewed from, and stepping back to reflect on this whole

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process of exploration to see the strengths and weaknesses of the approach you have
adopted, and how you might do it better.

Question 01 (100 % marks)

(a) Read through the attached Case study “Toshiba’s Accounting Scandal”. As you read
through the article create one spray diagram to summarize the case content
respecting the conventions, and techniques. It is advised that students submit hand
drawn diagrams as opposed to computer generated ones. Photocopies of diagrams
should not be accepted. Reflect on your diagram in no more than 200 words. (15%
marks).
(b) Based on what you learned in T205B concept file 04 section II “Control”, and based
on the content of the article, and taking “Fixing corporate culture” as your goal
draw one closed loop control model diagram to show the various inputs, and the
transformation process, that can lead to reaching this goal. You need to show all the
components of the control model diagram, the inputs’, processes, control (actuator,
comparator, sensor), that can lead to goal achievement . Reflect on your diagram
(15% marks)

(c) Using an essay format of no more than 2500 words, and based on what you learned
in T205B concept file 04 section I “Organizations are They Rational”, readings 01
and 07, section III “Structure”, section IV development, section V culture and
climate, and section VI “Decision Making” and based on the ideas put forth in the
attached case study:

1- Discuss the concept of organizational goals and the three categories of goals, and
assess the existence of goal displacement and pluralism at Toshiba. (Word Count
500; 15 Marks)
2- Discuss the management approach at Toshiba, and the extent of employees’
empowerment and teamwork. (Word Count 250, 05 Marks)
3- Discuss the concepts of organizational culture and climate and assess Toyota’s
culture and climate. (Word count 400; 10 Marks)
4- Assess the extent to which Toyotas culture and climate and the unwritten rule of
behaviors lead to the accounting scandal, (Word count 400; 15 Marks).

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 5- Discuss the different perspectives on decision making and assess how the
decision-making process at Toshiba has affected the managers ability to resist
pressures to inflate profits from top management (Word count 400; 15 Marks).
6- The investigation report mentioned that the interference of old generation of
managers and their refusal to fully retire affected organizational culture and
performance. Discuss the concept of organizational learning, and assess how the
older managers’ attitude and power, can affect Toshibas ability to be a learning
organization; justify your answers with evidence from the case (300 words; 10
Marks).

General Mark’s deductions of 20% as follows

 PT3 Form (failure to use the PT3 completely filled) (deduct up to 5% marks)
 TMA Presentation and Structure, and word count (untidy, work way below or
above the word count, no display of word count) (deduct up to 5% marks)
 Referencing and in-text citation (poor referencing and in-text citation, without
plagiarism, (deduct up to 10% marks).

Guidance

Guidance to Question 01

For this question you need to read the assigned article carefully and to reflect back on
concept file 04 for the theoretical assessment.

(a) At this stage of the course you are expected to have developed good understanding
of the purpose of drawing spray diagrams as part of applying the SUDA process for
solving a messy situation. A spray diagram is the first type of diagrams drawn in the
sensing phase of the SUDA process of mess analysis, in order to summarize the
main ideas of a case, or the main components/elements of a situation. Please pay
attention to the conventions and make sure that the central topic and other subtopics
are relevant, and do make sense to the reader. Go back to T552 (Diagramming) the
appendix to refresh your memory about the conventions.

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 (b) This is your first attempt at drawing control model diagram. The task should not be
challenging though. Refer to Concept file 04 section II “Control”. You need to
draw a control model diagram to show how the selected inputs can reach the stated
goal. You also need to illustrate clear, relevant, and non-overlapping inputs, clear
and accurate transformation process and an output which is consistent with the goal.
You also need to specify which organizational entity is in charge of assuming the
role of each of the elements/components of the control model (i.e. actuator, sensor,
and comparator). The parties in charge of performing each task within the control
mechanism should be clearly identified. It is very important that your diagram is
specific rather than generic.

(c) Here you need to practice your analytical skills to assess what is required.
Remember to start with a good introduction in which you define the assessed topic
before moving on to explaining your plan for working on the TMA. In the body you
should move on to assess the causes of the problems faced by Toyota and the impact
of the organization’s structure, climate and decision making on its reaction to the
problem. You also need to evaluate whether Toyota is a learning organization by
relying on both theoretical principles and practical examples, and on the ideas
presented in the assigned article.