WGU D372 Task 3 - Case Study 1: Analyzing Jamal's Software Transition Using the Iceberg Tool

WGU's Four-Step Tool (based on "Six Steps to Thinking Systemically" by Michael Goodman and Richard Karash) STEP 1: Complete an Iceberg Tool for this case study. Iceberg Tool to Understand Patterns and Structure Iceberg tool shows events at the top, patterns and trends at the water line, structure near the bottom and less visible. Questions to Ask – Case Study 1 What are the key events in this case study? The key event in this case study is the fact that Jamal’s manager wants his department to switch to a new software program. Jamal’s immediate reaction to this is a reaction of reluctance and hesitancy because he is already accustomed to using the current software program and he knows it could take him awhile to get used to the new software program. What patterns do you notice in the key events of this case study? One pattern I notice is the implementation of new software programs. The CEO has made it a point to stay up-to-date with the latest software so that they can compete with larger companies. This means that the company has most likely switched software in the past, and they will continue to do so in the future. Another pattern is the reaction of the employees. Although Jamal is experiencing a change in software for the first time, he will continue to have the same reaction in the future. Jamal and the rest of the employees can anticipate and prepare for these changes by changing their attitudes. Instead of being reluctant, they should be open-minded to change and happy to make changes that will benefit the company. What structure(s) explain the patterns of events in this case study? I already got into this a little in the last question, but the reason there is a pattern regarding the change in software programs is because the CEO wants the company to be competitive with the larger companies. In order to do that, they have to stay up-to-date with the latest software. The other pattern is the employees’ reactions to the change in software. The reasoning for this pattern is that they are already comfortable with the current software and they don’t want to spend months learning a new software program because their productivity will suffer.With all this being said, I assume over time the employees will gain a more open-minded perspective to these changes STEP 2: Draw “Behavior Over Time” Diagrams. (Use as many blank BOT graphs as necessary, given the case study) In this diagram, the red line shows the behavior of the employees starting off as reluctant to change, but ovTeirmtieme, they begin to accept that the change in software benefits them and the company. The blue line represents the CEO and manager who already knew that the change in software would benefit the company. Behavior This graph shows the company gaining market shares as a result of them switching software programs beforTeimthee larger opposing companies, and therefore, having an edge on them. Scan to open on Studocu Behavior Over Time diagram; the x-axis is labeled “time”; the y-axis is labeled "behavior". STEP 3: Select the systems archetype that best fits the case study. You may wish to refer to A Pocket Guide for Using the Archetypes. 1. Which archetype did you select? I chose the “Success to the Successful” archetype. 2. Why does this archetype best fit the given case study? Explain how its causal loop diagram and text description match up with the facts of the case study. This archetype best fits case study 1 because it deals with organizations unlearning what they are already familiar with, and learning something new that will benefit the organization. This aligns perfectly with the case study because Jamal was reluctant to switch from the software that he was already comfortable with, to the new software that could give the company an edge on the larger companies. The loop diagram shows this by using keyboards as an example. It shows effort being put into learning the QWERTY keyboard, then being proficient with that keyboard, then the desire to use the QWERTY keyboard over the newly introduced DVORAK keyboard. It then shows effort being made to learn the new keyboard, then being proficient with this keyboard. This sounds just like Jamal and the other employees in the department. They put effort into learning their current software program, then they became proficient with that software, then a new software was introduced which means they have to put effort into learning that new software, and eventually, they will be proficient with