MCE Final Exam Study Guide – Questions With
Comprehensive Solutions
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Terms in this set (50)
System - an interconnected set of elements that is coherently
organized in a way that achieves something
- purpose is usually not something we want to
achieve
if not understood, we
- address symptoms rather than causes
- achieve short term gains
- produce unintentional negative consequences
Systems Thinking - relationship between problems and causes is NOT
OBVIOUS
- WE create problems and have control over them by
changing our behavior
- most short term solutions have unintended
consequences, make NO DIFFERENCE in the long
run (or make matters worse)
- we must IMPROVE RELATIONSHIPS to optimize the
whole
- only A FEW key changes sustained over time will
produce large systems change
1) identify the system (ex: ecosystem)
2) create a broad outline of how the system functions
(inputs and outputs)
3) identify how the parts are arranged and
interconnected (place and overall function within the
whole)
, Conventional Thinking - connection between problems and their causes is
OBVIOUS
- OTHERS are to blame for our problems and they
must be the ones to change
- policy to achieve short term success WILL ALSO
ASSURE long term success
- we must OPTIMIZE THE PARTS to optimize the
whole
- tackle MANY independent initiatives simultaneously
Espoused vs. Actual Purpose - espoused purpose: general and obvious purpose
(ex: homeless shelter providing shelter)
- actual purpose: what they are actually doing (ex:
increasing homelessness)
Better-Before-Worse Solutions that work in the short run often have
negative long-term effects
Worse-Before-Better Long-term success often requires short-term
investment or sacrifice
Analysis (systems thinking) 1) gain an understanding of a system by breaking it
down
2) isolate smaller parts of the system then analyze
each part to describe properties
3) recombine parts to understand the system as a
whole
- only works well with a low level of interconnectivity
Synthesis (systems thinking) 1) understand the whole of an entity
2) the parts of something are intimately
interconnected and can only be explained by
reference to the whole
- focuses on relation between elements and how
they are arranged to function together
Comprehensive Solutions
Save
Terms in this set (50)
System - an interconnected set of elements that is coherently
organized in a way that achieves something
- purpose is usually not something we want to
achieve
if not understood, we
- address symptoms rather than causes
- achieve short term gains
- produce unintentional negative consequences
Systems Thinking - relationship between problems and causes is NOT
OBVIOUS
- WE create problems and have control over them by
changing our behavior
- most short term solutions have unintended
consequences, make NO DIFFERENCE in the long
run (or make matters worse)
- we must IMPROVE RELATIONSHIPS to optimize the
whole
- only A FEW key changes sustained over time will
produce large systems change
1) identify the system (ex: ecosystem)
2) create a broad outline of how the system functions
(inputs and outputs)
3) identify how the parts are arranged and
interconnected (place and overall function within the
whole)
, Conventional Thinking - connection between problems and their causes is
OBVIOUS
- OTHERS are to blame for our problems and they
must be the ones to change
- policy to achieve short term success WILL ALSO
ASSURE long term success
- we must OPTIMIZE THE PARTS to optimize the
whole
- tackle MANY independent initiatives simultaneously
Espoused vs. Actual Purpose - espoused purpose: general and obvious purpose
(ex: homeless shelter providing shelter)
- actual purpose: what they are actually doing (ex:
increasing homelessness)
Better-Before-Worse Solutions that work in the short run often have
negative long-term effects
Worse-Before-Better Long-term success often requires short-term
investment or sacrifice
Analysis (systems thinking) 1) gain an understanding of a system by breaking it
down
2) isolate smaller parts of the system then analyze
each part to describe properties
3) recombine parts to understand the system as a
whole
- only works well with a low level of interconnectivity
Synthesis (systems thinking) 1) understand the whole of an entity
2) the parts of something are intimately
interconnected and can only be explained by
reference to the whole
- focuses on relation between elements and how
they are arranged to function together
