WGU D459 Task 3|Latest Update with
complete solution.
WGU's Four-Step Tool (based on "Six Steps to Thinking Systemically" by Michael Goodman and
Richard Karash)
The Iceberg Tool is a way to see how the structure (the case's background) ties together the individual events and the
patterns and trends that emerge from recurring events. The Iceberg Tool allows you to see the basic facts and
interconnections, an essential first step.
STEP 1: Complete an Iceberg Tool for this case study. Iceberg
Tool to Understand Patterns and Structure
Questions to Ask
1. What are the key events in this study?
Ms. Jackson having a craft cart for her students to use daily is the key event for this study. Every
day, Ms. Jackson would have to restock her art supplies on the cart so her students could complete
their artwork. Some students started doing art projects to impress Ms. Jackson using many
materials. This caused the supplies on the cart to be used up quickly. Due to the students using the
materials so quickly, they became very frustrated and started to disagree. This also caused the
students not to be able to express themselves through their art.
, 2. What patterns do you notice in the key events of this case study?
The students wanted to impress Ms. Jackson on the art projects, but because of the limited
materials, they could not express themselves as they wanted to through their art. This hurt their
artistic skills, and they became frustrated with one another.
3. What structure(s) explain the patterns of events in this case study?
The students need a growing demand for art supplies because they want to impress Ms. Jackson and
use them more. Ms. Jackson has a low budget, so once the supplies ran out, they ran out.
This caused the competition between the students over the remaining art supplies that were on
complete solution.
WGU's Four-Step Tool (based on "Six Steps to Thinking Systemically" by Michael Goodman and
Richard Karash)
The Iceberg Tool is a way to see how the structure (the case's background) ties together the individual events and the
patterns and trends that emerge from recurring events. The Iceberg Tool allows you to see the basic facts and
interconnections, an essential first step.
STEP 1: Complete an Iceberg Tool for this case study. Iceberg
Tool to Understand Patterns and Structure
Questions to Ask
1. What are the key events in this study?
Ms. Jackson having a craft cart for her students to use daily is the key event for this study. Every
day, Ms. Jackson would have to restock her art supplies on the cart so her students could complete
their artwork. Some students started doing art projects to impress Ms. Jackson using many
materials. This caused the supplies on the cart to be used up quickly. Due to the students using the
materials so quickly, they became very frustrated and started to disagree. This also caused the
students not to be able to express themselves through their art.
, 2. What patterns do you notice in the key events of this case study?
The students wanted to impress Ms. Jackson on the art projects, but because of the limited
materials, they could not express themselves as they wanted to through their art. This hurt their
artistic skills, and they became frustrated with one another.
3. What structure(s) explain the patterns of events in this case study?
The students need a growing demand for art supplies because they want to impress Ms. Jackson and
use them more. Ms. Jackson has a low budget, so once the supplies ran out, they ran out.
This caused the competition between the students over the remaining art supplies that were on
