D 3 7 2 T as k 1 - F i n a l D r a f t A n a l y s i s O f W i l d e B r a m b l e C a s e S t u d y | Q u e s t i o n s A n d
Answers, Latest Update | 100% Correct Answers | Graded Eric Williams
Student ID#: 009250305
Introduction to Systems Thinking – D372
Performance Assessment Task 1
A. (Case Study 1
Wilde’s Bramble is an organic food company started by a couple who grew up in rural Vermont,
Alder and Calla Wilde. Living on a small farm created with tracts of land from both sets of
parents, the Wildes decided to grow and sell organic products. They began by bringing their
products to local farmers’ markets and when word got around of the high-quality and delicious
offerings, local shops and restaurants began to buy and resell their products too.
The increase in the number of customers led to more pressure to produce, so the Wildes used
some money from savings to lease more farmland and ramp up production. They also needed
additional equipment, more power, and a new barn.
To keep up with costs, Alder and Calla began to rely on a credit card. As the credit card
payments increased and the finance charges piled up, they took out a mortgage on the farm,
and Calla found a job away from the farm to help with cash flow. The outlook began to dim as
the ever-increasing debt—which helped the cash flow problem in the moment but added to the
overall crunch—threatened to overwhelm them.
1. (Using the Iceberg Tool, write a summary of the analysis identifying key “A-events”, “B-
patterns”, and the underlying “C-structure” that causes the identified events and patterns
to occur.
A1 - Alder/Calla Wilde started organic food company called Wilde’s Bramble in Vermont
A2 - The sold their products at local farmers markets
A3 – Word got around and their product became popular increasing demand
A4 – Demand of product led to increased number of customers (due to success/growth)
A5 – Increased number of customers led to more pressure to produce more product
B1 – Pressure to produce led to need for more capital (i.e.- lease more farmland, buy more
equipment, more power (energy), storage structures.
B2 – Demand for more capital causes the two to eat up personal savings, then to start
relying on using credit cards to pay for everything.
B3 – As credit cards were used debt/finance charges began to pile up
B4 – Cash flow issues caused 1 of them to look for outside job
C1 – Lack of financial planning from beginning eventually started the Wilde’s down a dim
financial path
C2 – Increase in demand caught the Wilde’s unprepared and unable to increase for bigger
operations because of financial standpoint
C3 – This caused the Wilde’s to always be playing the keep-up game
financially/operationally.
2. (Choose the(Behavior Over Time graph that best represents the patterns you identified using
the attached “Case Study 1 Graphs” or “Case Study 2 Graphs” for the case study you
chose.
(a. (Discuss why the chosen Behavior Over Time graph best represents the patterns present in
the chosen case study.
Answers, Latest Update | 100% Correct Answers | Graded Eric Williams
Student ID#: 009250305
Introduction to Systems Thinking – D372
Performance Assessment Task 1
A. (Case Study 1
Wilde’s Bramble is an organic food company started by a couple who grew up in rural Vermont,
Alder and Calla Wilde. Living on a small farm created with tracts of land from both sets of
parents, the Wildes decided to grow and sell organic products. They began by bringing their
products to local farmers’ markets and when word got around of the high-quality and delicious
offerings, local shops and restaurants began to buy and resell their products too.
The increase in the number of customers led to more pressure to produce, so the Wildes used
some money from savings to lease more farmland and ramp up production. They also needed
additional equipment, more power, and a new barn.
To keep up with costs, Alder and Calla began to rely on a credit card. As the credit card
payments increased and the finance charges piled up, they took out a mortgage on the farm,
and Calla found a job away from the farm to help with cash flow. The outlook began to dim as
the ever-increasing debt—which helped the cash flow problem in the moment but added to the
overall crunch—threatened to overwhelm them.
1. (Using the Iceberg Tool, write a summary of the analysis identifying key “A-events”, “B-
patterns”, and the underlying “C-structure” that causes the identified events and patterns
to occur.
A1 - Alder/Calla Wilde started organic food company called Wilde’s Bramble in Vermont
A2 - The sold their products at local farmers markets
A3 – Word got around and their product became popular increasing demand
A4 – Demand of product led to increased number of customers (due to success/growth)
A5 – Increased number of customers led to more pressure to produce more product
B1 – Pressure to produce led to need for more capital (i.e.- lease more farmland, buy more
equipment, more power (energy), storage structures.
B2 – Demand for more capital causes the two to eat up personal savings, then to start
relying on using credit cards to pay for everything.
B3 – As credit cards were used debt/finance charges began to pile up
B4 – Cash flow issues caused 1 of them to look for outside job
C1 – Lack of financial planning from beginning eventually started the Wilde’s down a dim
financial path
C2 – Increase in demand caught the Wilde’s unprepared and unable to increase for bigger
operations because of financial standpoint
C3 – This caused the Wilde’s to always be playing the keep-up game
financially/operationally.
2. (Choose the(Behavior Over Time graph that best represents the patterns you identified using
the attached “Case Study 1 Graphs” or “Case Study 2 Graphs” for the case study you
chose.
(a. (Discuss why the chosen Behavior Over Time graph best represents the patterns present in
the chosen case study.
