TMGT 411, Systems Performance

UMUC-Europe, DE Term 1, 1999-2000; Dates: 13 Aug. - 10 Dec. 1999

Schedule & Assignments

Weekly Assignments

Week 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 || 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 || Final Exam Week

Special Assignments

Turn-in of individual assignments listed below will normally be allocated to specific class members and posted in the WebTycho Assignment area or sent out by email. You will respond NLT the last day of the period for which they are assigned. If you have trouble with WebTycho, email the assignment to me.

Each student is reponsible for all individual assignments whether turned-in for a grade or not.

Turn-in of small group assignments will be allocated to specific groups of students as we go along. Different groups can expect to be working on different aspects of the bi-weekly assignments. Items of interest and concern are to be discussed among those group members during the assigned weeks and posted to the WebTycho Assignment area NLT the last day of the period for which they are assigned. I will comment on the assignment and make it available to the class as a whole for our discussion during the following week. During Week 1, our discussion will focus on course mission, objectives and evaluation criteria.

Take care to identify your small group email messages by Week, Lesson and Group number.

Each group and student is reponsible for understanding all small group assignments whether turned-in for a grade by their particular group or not.

Week 1 (31 Aug - 6 Sep. '99) Course Intro & Orientation:-

Track 1 Read Carter's Systems, Management and Change

Track 2 Formulate your Term Project Proposal. Select your case carefully.

Track 3
Individual Work:

Survey Library resources.

Explore Internet Resources.

Practice basic protocols

Track 4
Small Group Work:

Get Acquainted with fellow learners; send in a bio sketch to share with others

See Week 1 Group Assignments

Return to Top

Week 2 (7 - 13 Sep. 1999) Systems Diagraming:-

Track 1
Read Waring's Practical Systems Thinking, Part 1, Chapters 1-5

Read Goldratt's The Goal, Ch 1-3

Track 2 Draft & redraft your Term Project Proposal. Incorporate systems diagrams.

Track 3
Individual Work:

Create a systems map, concept maps, influence diagram, multiple cause diagram, and sign graph for two activities / situations you are considering for your Term Project. Mind maps are also encouraged.

Nominate your Supplemental Book. (First Come, First Served. No Duplicates.)

One article or observation, shared with the group. (See your Assignment area of WebTycho for specific tasking.)

Track 4
Small Group Work:

Discuss and improve on systems maps, concept maps (or mind maps), influence diagrams for Goldratt's The Goal, Chapters 1-3.

Return to Top

Week 3 (14 - 20 Sep. 1999) Systems Diagraming (cont.):-

Track 1
Read Waring's Practical Systems Thinking, Part 2, Chapters 6-11

Read Goldratt's The Goal, Ch 4-11

Track 2 Finalize your Term Project Proposal to include systems diagrams.

Track 3
Individual Work:

Create control model diagrams [single loop (open and closed) and double loop] for two activities / situations you are involved in.

One article or observation, shared with the group. (See your Assignment area of WebTycho for specific tasking.)

Track 4
Small Group Work:

Build on your prior work. Discuss and improve on systems maps, concept maps, influence diagrams, multiple cause diagrams, sign graphs, control model diagrams and fault trees for Goldratt's The Goal, especially Chapters 4-11.

Return to Top

Week 4 (21 - 27 Sep. 1999) Thinking with Systems Models:-

Track 1
Read Waring's Practical Systems Thinking, Part 2, Chapters 12-13

Read Goldratt's The Goal, Ch 12-26

Track 2 Term Project Proposal due 26 Sep. 1999

Track 3
Individual Work:

Create flow diagrams and fault trees for two activities / situations you are involved in.

Apply a fish-bone (Ishikawa) diagram to your Term Project for Track 2. Suggest ways to apply the PDSA / PDCA cycle to your Term Project.

One article or observation, shared with the group. (See your Assignment area of WebTycho for specific tasking.)

Track 4
Small Group Work:

Build on your prior work. Discuss and improve on systems maps, concept maps, influence diagrams, multiple cause diagrams, sign graphs, control model diagrams and fault trees for Goldratt's The Goal, especially Chapters 12-26.

Apply a fish-bone (Ishikawa) diagram to Goldratt's The Goal.

Return to Top

Journal 1 due NLT 30 September 1999

Week 5 (28 Sep. - 4 Oct. 1999) Extending the System:-

Track 1
Read Swanson's Analysis for Improving Performance

Read Goldratt's The Goal, Ch 27-40

Track 2 Draft and redraft your Term Project Goal. Incorporate systems diagrams.

Track 3
Individual Work:

Revise two of the following for activities you are involved in:- systems maps and influence diagrams, multiple cause diagrams, sign graphs, control model diagrams and fault trees.

Suggest ways (in detail - where and how) control charts could be used to collect data on the system your are using for your Term Project.

One article or observation, shared with the group. (See your Assignment area of WebTycho for specific tasking.)

Track 4
Small Group Work:

Build on your prior work. Discuss and improve on systems maps, concept maps, influence diagrams, multiple cause diagrams, sign graphs, control model diagrams and fault trees for Goldratt's The Goal, especially Chapters 27-40.

Identify sources of variation and the response of characters in Goldratt's The Goal to that variation.

Suggest ways (in detail - where and how) control charts could be used.

Return to Top

Week 6 (5 - 11 Oct. 1999) Allowing for the Individual:-

Track 1   Read Swanson's Analysis for Improving Performance

Track 2 Finalize your Term Project Goal paper including your systems diagrams.

Track 3
Individual Work:

Using Swanson's model, Articulate the Initial Purpose for your Term Project in Track 2.

Using Swanson's model, Determine Performance Needs, Assess Performance Variables, and Specify Performance Measures for your Term Project in Track 2.

One article or observation, shared with the group. (See your Assignment area of WebTycho for specific tasking.)

  Track 4
Small Group Work:

Create, share and improve on systems diagrams for Acme, Inc., itself, the Shipping Department and the job of Shipper as presented in Swanson's text.

Apply Swanson's Five Analysis of Expertise tools to selected characters in Goldratt's The Goal.

Return to Top

Week 7 (12 - 15 Oct. 1999) Getting the Measure of it all:-

Track 1    Read Weiss & Wysocki's 5-Phase Project Management

Track 2   Goal Paper due 15 Oct. 1999

Track 3
Individual Work:

Using Weiss and Wysocki Chapter 3 as a guide, identify project activities and estimate time and cost for at least two major components of your Term Project in Track 2. Add to this other systems diagrams which support your plan (alternative ways of looking at the same information not yet explored or presented).

Discuss the importance and weaknesses of measurements.

One article or observation, shared with the group. (See your Assignment area of WebTycho for specific tasking.)

  Track 4
Small Group Work:

Using Weiss and Wysocki Chapter 3 as a guide, identify project activities and estimate time and cost for selected operations in Goldratt's The Goal.

Return to Top

Week 8 : 16-22 Oct. 1999 - Term Break

Journal 2 due NLT 31 October 1999

Week 9 (23 Oct. - 1 Nov. 1999) If it gets done, it's a Project:-

Track 1
Complete Weiss & Wysocki's 5-Phase Project Management.

Read your Supplemental Book.

Track 2 Structure & draft your Analysis Paper. Incorporate systems diagrams.

Track 3
Individual Work:

Using Weiss and Wysocki Chapter 4 as a guide, sequence project activities and identify critical activities for at least two major components of your Term Project in Track 2. Add to this other systems diagrams which support your plan (alternative ways of looking at the same information not yet explored or presented).

Using Weiss and Wysocki Chapter 8 as a guide, explore how you propose to manage people and project relationships for the activities described in your Term Project for Track 2. Add to this other systems diagrams which support your plan (alternative ways of looking at the same information not yet explored or presented).

Relate the use of control charts to controlling variation of your project schedule.

One article or observation, shared with the group. (See your Assignment area of WebTycho for specific tasking.)

Track 4
Small Group Work:

Using Weiss and Wysocki Chapter 4 as a guide, sequence project activities and identify critical activities for selected operations in Goldratt's The Goal.

Using systems diagrams, describe the relationship of the concepts and tools discussed in Swanson's text with those in Weiss and Wysocki.

Using Weiss and Wysocki Chapter 8 as a guide, describe the management of people and project relationships for selected operations in Goldratt's The Goal.

Return to Top

Week 10 (2 - 8 Nov. 1999) Finding the pacing elements (the constraints):-

Track 1 Read your Supplemental Book.

Track 2 Redraft your Analysis. Use more systems tools.

Track 3
Individual Work:

Using Weiss and Wysocki Chapter 9 as a guide, explore how you propose to maintain the project schedule for the activities described in your Term Project for Track 2. Add to this other systems diagrams which support your plan (alternative ways of looking at the same information not yet explored or presented).

One article or observation, shared with the group. (See your Assignment area of WebTycho for specific tasking.)

Track 4
Small Group Work:

Using Weiss and Wysocki Chapter 9 as a guide, describe control methods (tools, reports, etc.) for selected operations in Goldratt's The Goal.

Return to Top

Week 11 (9 - 15 Nov. 1999) Leadership makes a difference:-

Track 1 Read your Supplemental Book.

Track 2 Analysis Paper due 15 Nov. 1999.

Track 3
Individual Work:

Using Weiss and Wysocki Chapter 10 as a guide, explore your project termination actions for the activities described in your Term Project for Track 2. Add to this other systems diagrams which support your plan (alternative ways of looking at the same information not yet explored or presented).

One article or observation, shared with the group. (See your Assignment area of WebTycho for specific tasking.)

Track 4
Small Group Work:

Using Weiss and Wysocki Chapter 10 as a guide, describe how selected projects or activities were closed out in Goldratt's The Goal.

Return to Top

Week 12 (16 - 22 Nov. 1999) Staying on Track:-

Track 1

Track 2 Outline your Term Project Improvement Plan.

Track 3
Individual Work:

Post a Critical Analysis of your Supplemental Book supported by systems diagrams.

One article or observation, shared with the group. (See your Assignment area of WebTycho for specific tasking.)

Track 4
Small Group Work:

Share with your group the Term Project System Thinking tools you used and explore opportunities to apply tools.

Return to Top

Week 13 (23-29 Nov. 1999) Wrap-up & Final comments, Course Critique, etc.

Track 1

Track 2
Draft & redraft your Improvement Plan.

Incorporate systems diagrams & project management charts & graphics.

Include a Time-phased Implementation Plan.

Track 3
Individual Work:

Comment on the Supplemental Book reports of other students and their use of Systems Thinking tools.

One article or observation, shared with the group. (See your Assignment area of WebTycho for specific tasking.)

Track 4
Small Group Work:

Discuss the Supplemental Books and modify the systems diagrams. Propose the use of additional diagrams appropriate to the books being reviewed..

Return to Top

Journal 3 due NLT 30 November 1998

Week 14 (30 Nov. - 3 Dec.1999) Wrap-up & Final comments, Course Critique, etc.

Track 1 Review Course Texts, Postings, your notes, and electronic discussions.

Track 2 Term Project Improvement Plan due 3 Dec. 1999

Track 3
Individual Work:

Reflect on the comments on your Supplemental Book and respond.

Complete the course critique and provide feedback directly to Phil as desired.

One article or observation, shared with the group. (See your Assignment area of WebTycho for specific tasking.)

Track 4
Small Group Work:

Complete your discussion of the Supplemental Books.

Critique the course and in particular its personal, professional, and intellectual value to you.

Return to Top

Week 15 Final Exam "Week" is 3 - 12 December 1999.

Observe both timing and non-disclosure requirements stringently.

Weekly Assignments

Week 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 || 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 || Final Exam Week

Special Assignments

Journals 1 | 2 | 3 || Term Project

Return to:- TMGT-411 Course Requirements

When Working in Small Groups | Recorder Duties

TMGT-411 Index Page | Index to Phil's TMGT-411 Postings


Revised 25 July 1999
Phil Richardson; prichard@faculty.ed.umuc.edu

Track 1	Read Carter's Systems, Management and Change
Track 2	Formulate your Term Project Proposal. Select your case carefully.
Track 3	Individual Work: Survey Library resources. Explore Internet Resources. Practice basic protocols
Track 4	Small Group Work: Get Acquainted with fellow learners; send in a bio sketch to share with others See Week 1 Group Assignments

Track 1	Read Waring's Practical Systems Thinking, Part 1, Chapters 1-5 Read Goldratt's The Goal, Ch 1-3
Track 2	Draft & redraft your Term Project Proposal. Incorporate systems diagrams.
Track 3	Individual Work: Create a systems map, concept maps, influence diagram, multiple cause diagram, and sign graph for two activities / situations you are considering for your Term Project. Mind maps are also encouraged. Nominate your Supplemental Book. (First Come, First Served. No Duplicates.) One article or observation, shared with the group. (See your Assignment area of WebTycho for specific tasking.)
Track 4	Small Group Work: Discuss and improve on systems maps, concept maps (or mind maps), influence diagrams for Goldratt's The Goal, Chapters 1-3.

Track 1	Read Swanson's Analysis for Improving Performance Read Goldratt's The Goal, Ch 27-40
Track 2	Draft and redraft your Term Project Goal. Incorporate systems diagrams.
Track 3	Individual Work: Revise two of the following for activities you are involved in:- systems maps and influence diagrams, multiple cause diagrams, sign graphs, control model diagrams and fault trees. Suggest ways (in detail - where and how) control charts could be used to collect data on the system your are using for your Term Project. One article or observation, shared with the group. (See your Assignment area of WebTycho for specific tasking.)
Track 4	Small Group Work: Build on your prior work. Discuss and improve on systems maps, concept maps, influence diagrams, multiple cause diagrams, sign graphs, control model diagrams and fault trees for Goldratt's The Goal, especially Chapters 27-40. Identify sources of variation and the response of characters in Goldratt's The Goal to that variation. Suggest ways (in detail - where and how) control charts could be used.

Track 1	Read Weiss & Wysocki's 5-Phase Project Management
Track 2	Goal Paper due 15 Oct. 1999
Track 3	Individual Work: Using Weiss and Wysocki Chapter 3 as a guide, identify project activities and estimate time and cost for at least two major components of your Term Project in Track 2. Add to this other systems diagrams which support your plan (alternative ways of looking at the same information not yet explored or presented). Discuss the importance and weaknesses of measurements. One article or observation, shared with the group. (See your Assignment area of WebTycho for specific tasking.)
Track 4	Small Group Work: Using Weiss and Wysocki Chapter 3 as a guide, identify project activities and estimate time and cost for selected operations in Goldratt's The Goal.

Track 1	Complete Weiss & Wysocki's 5-Phase Project Management. Read your Supplemental Book.
Track 2	Structure & draft your Analysis Paper. Incorporate systems diagrams.
Track 3	Individual Work: Using Weiss and Wysocki Chapter 4 as a guide, sequence project activities and identify critical activities for at least two major components of your Term Project in Track 2. Add to this other systems diagrams which support your plan (alternative ways of looking at the same information not yet explored or presented). Using Weiss and Wysocki Chapter 8 as a guide, explore how you propose to manage people and project relationships for the activities described in your Term Project for Track 2. Add to this other systems diagrams which support your plan (alternative ways of looking at the same information not yet explored or presented). Relate the use of control charts to controlling variation of your project schedule. One article or observation, shared with the group. (See your Assignment area of WebTycho for specific tasking.)
Track 4	Small Group Work: Using Weiss and Wysocki Chapter 4 as a guide, sequence project activities and identify critical activities for selected operations in Goldratt's The Goal. Using systems diagrams, describe the relationship of the concepts and tools discussed in Swanson's text with those in Weiss and Wysocki. Using Weiss and Wysocki Chapter 8 as a guide, describe the management of people and project relationships for selected operations in Goldratt's The Goal.

Track 1	Read your Supplemental Book.
Track 2	Redraft your Analysis. Use more systems tools.
Track 3	Individual Work: Using Weiss and Wysocki Chapter 9 as a guide, explore how you propose to maintain the project schedule for the activities described in your Term Project for Track 2. Add to this other systems diagrams which support your plan (alternative ways of looking at the same information not yet explored or presented). One article or observation, shared with the group. (See your Assignment area of WebTycho for specific tasking.)
Track 4	Small Group Work: Using Weiss and Wysocki Chapter 9 as a guide, describe control methods (tools, reports, etc.) for selected operations in Goldratt's The Goal.

Track 1
Track 2	Outline your Term Project Improvement Plan.
Track 3	Individual Work: Post a Critical Analysis of your Supplemental Book supported by systems diagrams. One article or observation, shared with the group. (See your Assignment area of WebTycho for specific tasking.)
Track 4	Small Group Work: Share with your group the Term Project System Thinking tools you used and explore opportunities to apply tools.

Track 1
Track 2	Draft & redraft your Improvement Plan. Incorporate systems diagrams & project management charts & graphics. Include a Time-phased Implementation Plan.
Track 3	Individual Work: Comment on the Supplemental Book reports of other students and their use of Systems Thinking tools. One article or observation, shared with the group. (See your Assignment area of WebTycho for specific tasking.)
Track 4	Small Group Work: Discuss the Supplemental Books and modify the systems diagrams. Propose the use of additional diagrams appropriate to the books being reviewed..

Track 1	Review Course Texts, Postings, your notes, and electronic discussions.
Track 2	Term Project Improvement Plan due 3 Dec. 1999
Track 3	Individual Work: Reflect on the comments on your Supplemental Book and respond. Complete the course critique and provide feedback directly to Phil as desired. One article or observation, shared with the group. (See your Assignment area of WebTycho for specific tasking.)
Track 4	Small Group Work: Complete your discussion of the Supplemental Books. Critique the course and in particular its personal, professional, and intellectual value to you.

TMGT 411, Systems Performance

UMUC-Europe, DE Term 1, 1999-2000; Dates: 13 Aug. - 10 Dec. 1999

Schedule & Assignments

Weekly Assignments

Special Assignments

Week 1 (31 Aug - 6 Sep. '99) Course Intro & Orientation:-

Week 2 (7 - 13 Sep. 1999) Systems Diagraming:-

Week 3 (14 - 20 Sep. 1999) Systems Diagraming (cont.):-

Week 4 (21 - 27 Sep. 1999) Thinking with Systems Models:-

** Journal 1 due NLT 30 September 1999 **

Week 5 (28 Sep. - 4 Oct. 1999) Extending the System:-

Week 6 (5 - 11 Oct. 1999) Allowing for the Individual:-

Week 8 : 16-22 Oct. 1999 - Term Break

** Journal 2 due NLT 31 October 1999 **

Week 9 (23 Oct. - 1 Nov. 1999) If it gets done, it's a Project:-

Week 10 (2 - 8 Nov. 1999) Finding the pacing elements (the constraints):-

Week 11 (9 - 15 Nov. 1999) Leadership makes a difference:-

Week 12 (16 - 22 Nov. 1999) Staying on Track:-

Week 13 (23-29 Nov. 1999) Wrap-up & Final comments, Course Critique, etc.

** Journal 3 due NLT 30 November 1998 **

Week 14 (30 Nov. - 3 Dec.1999) Wrap-up & Final comments, Course Critique, etc.

Weekly Assignments

Special Assignments

Journal 1 due NLT 30 September 1999

Journal 2 due NLT 31 October 1999

Journal 3 due NLT 30 November 1998