CQUniversity Unit Profile.

This assessment item has been designed to start your thinking about what systems are, and in particular the system life cycle.

You will prepare two mind maps from the topics below:

1. System map

2. System life cycle

Part A - System map (10%)

You are required to create a mind map that addresses the following:

•    add a picture (or description) of your system in the middle of the map
•    identify somewhere on the page the type of system
•    identify (break down) the system parts
•    Identify some interaction between people and 'Equipment/Technology/Infrastructure'
•    for the system parts, identify some potential human factor issues
•    for each human factor issue identify the potential relationship requirements
•    a short explanation (250-500 words) of the system and how it functions. 

Part B - System life cycle (10%)

You are required to create a mind map that addresses the following:

•    describes a system
•    illustrates the system life cycle
•    a short explanation (250-500 words) that details where elements to maintain continuity of the system are provided.

Weighting
20%

You will be assessed against:

1. Quality of the response

2. Organisation of the submission

3. Accuracy of grammar and spelling

This assessment item has been designed to help you prepare for your Socio-technical systems model proposal (Assessment 3) and the final report (Assessment 4). An annotated bibliography is an organised list of sources, each of which is followed by a brief description of the source, or annotation.

You will prepare an annotated bibliography based on the following:

•    Conceptual presentations of socio-technical systems that address the design of work, including a representation of human-machine relationships. 

You are required to complete:

1. A review of five peer reviewed journal articles, books, book chapters, or conference papers that further understanding of the topic; AND
2. A review of a useful, professional website that furthers understanding of the topic (NOT Wikipedia!): AND
3. A reference list for the sources cited.

Your annotations for your chosen topic must include:
•    a description of the content and focus of the article, book, book chapter, conference paper and website
•    suggestions regarding the source's usefulness to your research
•    an evaluation of its methods, conclusions and reliability
•    a record of your reactions to the source
•    each annotation should be approximately 300 words (+ or - 10%)
You may use your annotated bibliography when creating your Socio-technical systems model for assessment 3.

Weighting

20%

As a general guide, the annotated bibliography will be assessed on the following:
•    includes a description of the content and focus of the article, book, book chapter, conference paper and website
•    suggestions regarding the source's usefulness to your research
•    an evaluation of its methods, conclusions and reliability
•    a record of reaction to the article (connections made etc.)
•    organisation, accurate grammar and spelling and referencing.

This assessment item requires the development of a comprehensive output that will draw on your learning throughout the term, and applied to a specific proposed future work process or work event.

This assessment consists of two parts. Part A requires the creation of a predictive sociotechnical systems model diagram for a future work process or work event. Part B requires the annotation (i.e. preparation of explanatory notes) accompanying the model that could be presented to management (i.e. decision makers) in the organisation as a proposal for consideration of the forthcoming future work process or work event.

Part A (10%)
Prepare sociotechnical systems model diagram for a specific proposed future work process or work event, with the intent of using it as a predictive model for system success. The intent of this exercise is to identify predictive sociotechnical elements and their associated performance characteristics that can contribute to system success for a work process or work event.   

Construct the predictive model diagram based on the sociotechnical system model proposed by Davis et al 2014 and provided in Moodle as a template. Note the framework comprises ‘People’, ‘Technology’, ‘Culture’,’ Goals’, ‘Processes’ and ‘Infrastructure’ and all of these elements should be included in the model.  

Source: Davis, M, Challenger, R, Jayewardene, D & Clegg, C 2014, ‘Advancing socio-technical systems thinking: A call for bravery’, Applied Ergonomics, vol 45, pp. 171-180. 

To construct the sociotechnical systems model analysis diagram ensure the process itemised below (based on Clegg et al. 2017) is utilised. 

Source: Clegg, C, Robinson, M, Davis, M, Bolton, L, Pieniazek, R & McKay, A 2017, ‘Applying organizational psychology as a design science: A method for predicting malfunctions in socio-technical systems (PreMiSTS)’, Design Science, vol 3, pp. 1-31.

Your submission should be uploaded as a PDF.

Part B (20%) (1000 words)
Part B requires the annotation (i.e. preparation of explanatory notes) accompanying the model that could be presented to management (i.e. decision makers) in the organisation as a proposal for consideration of the forthcoming future work process or work event. Document the following (for part B) as you develop the diagram. Include in the diagram features as itemised below. 

1.    Name the work process or work event in the middle of the chart. Clearly identify where the data will come from. See the template provided in Moodle for how this is noted in the chart. 
2.    Source the data, which may be obtained from anywhere inside or outside the organisation (i.e. plans, standards, work schedules, past performance, brainstorming with stakeholders). Document how this is obtained.
3.    Identify (where possible) the main variables associated with the work process or work event (i.e. performance goals of managers, expected work task completion, composition of workgroups, allocation of resources, role clarity, work group characteristics). Document how this is obtained. Allocate these to the respective outer boundaries of the framework which comprises ‘People’, ‘Technology’, ‘Culture’,’ Goals’, ‘Processes’ and ‘Infrastructure’. Apply knowledge of the system life cycle where appropriate.

4.    Access and utilise the expertise of ‘domain experts’ (for example, train drivers for a rail-based work process). Document how this is obtained (or could be obtained).
5.    Build the hexagonal model. Note this is an iterative and cyclic process.
6.    Check and review all data used. Document the data used.
7.    Make connections across the framework components (i.e., ‘Culture’ of ‘xyz’ is related to ‘People’ with ‘xyz’).
8.    Review the diagram, qualify and validate each component and its connections by determining its authenticity and whether it contributes to system success (success of the work process or work event located in the middle of the chart).

Prepare annotations (i.e. explanatory notes) accompanying the model that could be presented to management (i.e. in readiness to explain it decision makers) in the organisation as a proposal for consideration of the forthcoming future work process or work event.

Your Socio-technical systems model and annotations (explanatory notes) will be assessed based on the quality and depth of the following:

Part A (10%)

• A predictive model for a future work process or work event is evident in the submission
• The model’s framework comprises all of the following elements, being ‘People’, ‘Technology’, ‘Culture’,’ Goals’, ‘Processes’ and ‘Infrastructure’.

Part B (20%)

• The main variables associated with the work process or work event are discussed
• Relationships between people and other system parts are identified and described
• All salient issues related to ‘People’, ‘Technology’, ‘Culture’,’ Goals’, ‘Processes’ and ‘Infrastructure’ are provided in the explanatory notes. 
• Knowledge of the system life cycle is applied, where appropriate
• Organisation, spelling and grammar
• Appropriate referencing (in text and reference list) is provided.  

This assessment builds on the work carried out in assessments one, two and three. You will choose a complex sociotechnical systems failure from a list provided in Moodle, and provide a report on the incident that highlights Socio-technical systems failures. 

Your report will include:

• title page
• contents page
• what happened - description of circumstances
• why it happened (discussion of findings) - demonstrated by the use of a socio-technical systems model
• appropriate categorisation of people, workplace and management issues
• conclusions regarding major learning from the accident
• consideration of prevention strategies to prevent recurrence
• referencing and reference list
• appendix (as required).

Your submission should be no more than 2000 words.

Your report will be assessed as shown by the following:

• communicates all salient issues related to 'what happened'
• identifies the relationships between people and other system parts
• applies knowledge of the system life cycle and explains its effect on failure
• recognises, and investigates the reported system failures
• examines the nature of systems failure and demonstrates ability to appropriately categorise to people, workplace and management issues
• proposes appropriate prevention strategies based on the principle of safe design, resilience engineering and redundancy
• demonstrates understanding of complexity and systems thinking
• selects and applies appropriate evidence sources to support analysis
• organisation, spelling, grammar and written expression
• selects appropriate bibliographic entries and references them correctly.