Semester Project LDST 200Phase Two: The System
Part 1 : Define 3 communities with which you have some connection.
Help me understand the community for who and what it is.
Help me understand why you feel a connection to it.
** It is understood that our families and our immediate living environments (i.e. roommates) are the communities that we are probably most intimately connected with. For the purpose of the semester project, look beyond those communities as the system in which you will do your adaptive work. Their size as well as the dynamics inherent in these types of systems makes developing your competencies and capacities particularly challenging.
Now take a deeper look at one of the communities you care about from above.
Define it more in depth – Who are the stakeholders (there may be multiple groups here)?
What beliefs and values animate them? Who holds title/power/authority?
Share the adaptive challenge(s) that it faces. What issues are ripe in the system at the
moment?
Part 2: Now that you’ve examined a community that you care about and the issues that it faces, choose ONE challenge and give examples to explain how a solution requires:
Changes in priorities, beliefs, habits, and loyalties,
Going beyond authoritative expertise,
Shedding entrenched ways,
Tolerating losses.
This will be the adaptive challenge that shapes your work for the remainder of the semester. Be positive that this is a challenge that you feel passionate enough about to sustain your efforts on the final project! Also be sure that you’ve chosen an adaptive, as opposed to a technical, challenge.
Part 3: Since you’ve identified the adaptive challenge that you wish to tackle, it is important to examine who should be at the table as you work together towards a solution that allows the community to thrive.
1. Consider your role in the system by answering the following questions:a. What is 1 way in which you may have contributed to the problem?b. What beliefs/values may be involved in your actions?c. What loyalties/commitments may be involved in your actions?d. What bad outcomes are you protecting yourself from by helping maintain the status quo?
2. Now make a list of at least 5 other individuals or groups who would be considered stakeholders in this system. If more than 5 are important, list as many as you feel you need to consider in the process.
3. Finally, choose 2 of the stakeholders you have listed above and answer the following questions for
each:a. How will (s)he/they be affected by resolution of the challenge?b. What would (s)he/they like to see come out of a resolution of the issue?c. How much does (s)he/they care about the issue?d. What resources does (s)he/they control?e. What values are guiding this person/group’s behaviors and decision-making?f. What loyalties or obligations does this person/group have to others?g. What does this person/group fear losing if things change?h. What shared interests does this person/group have with other stakeholders that could lead
this person/group to form alliances?
Example Adaptive challenge: Implementing a no smoking policy in my workplace
My role:
I have contributed by not speaking up about the effects of smoking on me, my colleagues,
and the business.
As someone who values harmony, I am uncomfortable “rocking the boat” in my workplace
and I shy away from conflict.
I am really good friends with one of the smokers and I know how much she uses her smoke
breaks to relieve work-related stress. It makes me uncomfortable to think that my actions
may be taking that away from her.
I am protecting myself from having my co-workers, and my friend, be mad at me and from
being viewed by our management as a “troublemaker” or a “complainer.”
Stakeholders: Smoking co-workers, Non-smoking co-workers, Management, Vendors, Customers
Stakeholder Impact for Smoking Co-workers
Will have to smoke when they leave for lunch or find other ways to satisfy their nicotine
needs.
Would like to see the smoking policy remain unchanged or would like to be allowed to smoke
indiscriminately in the workplace.
They probably care a LOT because nicotine is a habit-forming substance and they probably
have a physiological need for it as well as a psychological need for the camaraderie and
stress-relief wrapped up in frequent smoke breaks with other coworkers.
They have an equal say in workplace policy with our management.
They are probably driven by the value of freedom to make their own decision about
smoking/their bodies as well as the value of being heard and having a say in their workplace
environment.
They likely have loyalty to self (to continue to satisfy physical and psychological needs filled
by smoking) as well as a loyalty to fellow smokers in the office.
They fear losing the ability to smoke during work hours – this is both PHYSICAL and
PSYCHOLOGICAL/SOCIAL.
They may share interests with managers who are also smokers as well as smoking
customers.
ESSAy
