CGU COURSE: Finding the Forest

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• CGU COURSE Finding the Forest
• Applying Systems Thinking to Complex
  Organizational, Economic, and Sustainability
  Issues
• Dr Higgins course at the Drucker School of
  Management, Claremont Graduate University exposes
  students to systems thinking and develops their
  ability to assess complex problems in a broad,
  dynamic, and long-term context. Using her book
  Financial Whirlpools and other material, the
  course progressively develops expertise and
  awareness.
• By providing a technical understanding of
  systems thinking and of basic economic and
  financial fundamentals, the course deepens
  students insights and applies their
  understanding to increasingly larger and more
  complex systems. It first expresses individual
  behaviors such as motivation, values, and
  expectations in systems thinking terms, moves to
  organizational features such as incentive
  systems, short-term orientation, and cultural
  influences, and then integrates these views into
  systems interpretations of the national and
  global economies. Finally, it addresses
  sustainability.
• Upon completing this 21 hour, 2 semester unit
  course, the student will be able to
• View the world differently with a mental model
  that considers complex issues as dynamic systems
  of interdependence.
• Analyze and diagnose issues and behaviors using
  systems thinking skills.
• Exhibit proficiency with systems thinking
  constructs and structures.
• Identify leveraging actions where small changes
  have large benefits.
• Consider issues in the broader context of their
  environments and recognize the influence of prior
  events and conditions.
• Understand the presence and power of time delays
  and unintended consequences.
• Deepen insight into behaviors and issues that
  confront individuals, organizations, and national
  and global economies, and that prevent society
  from sustaining economic and environmental
  well-being.
• Apply improved team collaboration skills.