Systemic Intervention
| Module title | Systemic Intervention |
|---|---|
| Module code | POLM175 |
| Academic year | 2022/3 |
| Credits | 30 |
| Module staff | Dr Maya Vachkova (Lecturer) |
| Duration: Term | 1 | 2 | 3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Duration: Weeks | 3 |
| Number students taking module (anticipated) | 25 |
|---|
Module description
The module will be delivered in a condensed manner in the form of day-long lectures and workshops. Learners will be exposed to the idea of a systemic intervention – a purposeful action taken by an agent to create change in relation to reflection upon boundaries. The module will equip students with new capabilities to understand and adopt systemic approaches to map, evaluate and design social systems. Students will be introduced to systems approaches for managing complexity. The module will be taught in an intensive manner with blocks of teaching.
Module aims - intentions of the module
This module aims to equip learners with the analytical and modelling skills needed to inquire about complexity governance and to design and evaluate interventions in social systems.
Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs)
ILO: Module-specific skills
On successfully completing the module you will be able to...
- 1. Demonstrate a sound working knowledge of systemic theories.
- 2. Apply problem identification and broader decision-making skills to operational matters and to broader policy concerns.
ILO: Discipline-specific skills
On successfully completing the module you will be able to...
- 3. think critically about policy problems.
- 4. identify areas of influence and identify relationships between systems, their components and other systems.
- 5. Use skills required for qualitative modelling, rooted in systems thinking
ILO: Personal and key skills
On successfully completing the module you will be able to...
- 6. Defend ideas confidently when constructively challenged by others.
- 7. Challenge accepted practices or ideas with reasoned arguments.
Syllabus plan
‘Whilst the precise content may vary from year to year, it is envisaged that the syllabus will cover all or some of the following topics:’
- Critical systems heuristics
- Viable system model
- Soft systems methodology
Learning activities and teaching methods (given in hours of study time)
| Scheduled Learning and Teaching Activities | Guided independent study | Placement / study abroad |
|---|---|---|
| 22 | 278 |
Details of learning activities and teaching methods
| Category | Hours of study time | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Scheduled Learning & Teaching activities | 18 | Lectures (10 hours) and workshops (8 hours) |
| Guided Independent Study | 282 | 100 hours Reading and preparation for workshops. 178 hours preparing assignments. 4 hours revision and assignment support |
Formative assessment
| Form of assessment | Size of the assessment (eg length / duration) | ILOs assessed | Feedback method |
|---|---|---|---|
| Project proposal plan | 500 words | 1,2,3 | Written |
| Peer reviewed poster | Equivalent to 500 words | 1,2,3 | Peer |
Summative assessment (% of credit)
| Coursework | Written exams | Practical exams |
|---|---|---|
| 100 | 0 | 0 |
Details of summative assessment
| Form of assessment | % of credit | Size of the assessment (eg length / duration) | ILOs assessed | Feedback method |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Project proposal: | 70 | 3.000 words | 1,2,3,5,6 ,7 | Next re-assessment period |
| Poster | 30 | Equivalent to 1,000 words | 1,2,3,4 | Next re-assessment period |
Details of re-assessment (where required by referral or deferral)
| Original form of assessment | Form of re-assessment | ILOs re-assessed | Timescale for re-assessment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Project proposal | Project proposal 3,000 words | 1,2,3,5,6,7 | Next re-assessment period |
| Poster | equivalent to 1000 words | 1,2,3,4 | Next re-assessment period |
Indicative learning resources - Basic reading
- Midgley, G. (2000). Systemic intervention. In Systemic intervention. Springer, Boston, MA.
- Reynolds, M., & Holwell, S. (Eds.). (2010). Systems approaches to managing change: a practical guide. Springer Science & Business Media.
- Espinosa, A., & Walker, J. (2017). Complexity Approach to Sustainability, A: Theory And Application (Vol. 5). London: Imperial College Press.
- Jackson, M.C. (2019). Critical Systems Thinking and the Management of Complexity. Oxford: Wiley and Sons.
| Credit value | 30 |
|---|---|
| Module ECTS | 15 |
| NQF level (module) | 7 |
| Available as distance learning? | No |
| Origin date | 10/03/2022 |
