Case Study: Riverbend
Write a 5–7 page analysis paper about the Riverbend scenario. Focus on applying
Senge’s core disciplines, organizational disabilities, systems archetypes, and systems
maps to events in the scenario. Include critical thinking questions for stakeholders and
recommendations for the CEO based on this analysis.
This assessment provides an opportunity for you to gain insight into organizational
changes. Senge’s core disciplines, organizational disabilities, systems archetypes, and
systems maps can be applied in the Riverbend case study. Through your analysis of the
events and stakeholders in the case, you will be able to advance your understanding of
key course concepts as they appear in authentic organizational contexts. The case will
prompt you to interpret events from various viewpoints and to identify crucial decision
points in the case.
The Situation
Ongoing communication problems between the Hmong community and Riverbend City
Medical Center (RCMC) were punctuated painfully during the train
derailment—especially through the altercation with the Vang family. An embarrassing
article about the altercation in the Free Press prompts hospital CEO Eugene Pittman to
investigate a successful Merced, California, program. In Merced, the medical
community has been teaching principles of Western medicine to Hmong shamans
(traditional spiritual healers). The shamans act as a bridge between medical
professionals and the Hmong community. When consulting with Hmong patients, the
shamans instruct the patients in Western medicine and also perform traditional rituals.
Considerations
It is important for leaders to consider the cultural norms and needs of the people they
serve. It also sometimes becomes necessary to consider ideas that may seem
unorthodox. As you read about the strategies being considered by RCMC leadership,
consider the degree to which you feel the program will be effective. What steps should
the hospital take to maximize the effectiveness of this program?
Synopsis of the Case Study
Introduce the case.
● Provide a synopsis of the case study, focusing on how communication
problems and cultural misunderstandings created conflict in the
organization.
The Four Core Disciplines
Apply the four core disciplines to the case.
● Using the lens of the four core disciplines (personal mastery, mental
models, team learning, and shared vision), analyze the extent to which
each discipline reveals organizational dynamics and contributes to
organizational learning or to the organization’s problems. How could
application of the four disciplines have a beneficial impact on the
organization?
A Systems Lens
Apply a systems lens to the case.
● Analyze Senge’s organizational disabilities and systems archetypes
present in the case.
● Identify at least one organizational disability that contributes to the current
organizational conflict.
● Explain at least one example of a systems archetype that can be seen in
the case. Include a systems map of this archetype as part of your
explanation.
Organizational Disabilities and Systems Archetypes
Analyze the organizational disabilities and systems archetypes present in the case.
● Organizational disabilities: Identify how at least one organizational
disability contributes to the current organizational conflict.
● Systems archetypes: Explain and map at least one example of a systems
archetype evident in the case. Include a diagram of at least one systems
map as part of your analysis.
Practical Recommendations
Provide a set of specific practical recommendations about how the CEO should proceed
in a way that furthers the goals of supporting increased cultural understanding among
stakeholders and the community.
● Length: 5–7 pages.
● References: As needed to support your analysis.
● APA format: Follow current APA style and format.
● Competency 1: Apply systems thinking principles and tools to problems and
organizations.
○ Analyze organizational disabilities and systems archetypes present in the
case, including at least one systems map.
○ Provide a set of specific practical recommendations as to how the CEO
should proceed in a way that furthers the goals of supporting increased
cultural understanding among stakeholders and the community.
● Competency 2: Use disciplines of learning organizations to analyze problems of
practice.
○ Apply the lens of one or more of the four core disciplines (personal
mastery, mental models, team learning, shared vision), and analyze the
extent to which each discipline reveals organizational dynamics and
contributes to organizational learning or to addressing the organization’s
problems.
● Competency 3: Apply critical thinking to evaluate ideas and in interactions
with others.
○ Identify a set of questions to uncover stakeholder assumptions
and clarify steps needed for future progress.
● Competency 4: Apply a change model to a problem of practice.
○ Explain how the four-stage change process could be applied to
the case.
○ Explain how an action research inquiry cycle that incorporates
the recommendations could be planned, implemented, and
evaluated for the next phase of organizational improvement.
● Competency 5: Communicate clearly, supporting a central idea in an
appropriate format with correct grammar, usage, and mechanics.
○ Provide a synopsis of the Riverbend case study, including a
description of how communication problems and cultural
misunderstandings created organizational conflict.
○ Communicate clearly, supporting a central idea in appropriate
format with correct grammar, usage, and mechanics.
