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Course
Syllabus
Session
1: Process Improvement
Build
models that simulate business processes. Identify issues and safely test the
effect of new ideas and inputs on manufacturing, financial, human resource,
operational or other organizational systems.
Learn mechanics of process
improvement features such as:
- discrete
stock types—conveyors, queues, ovens
- leakage
flows
- CYCLE
time
- graphical
functions
- random
number generation
Session
2: Strategic Forums
Develop a
Strategic Forum to test the assumptions behind the “physics” of a strategy.
Create a dynamic model with an interface that helps to build strategic
understanding and answer questions like:
- How
do you know if a strategy is capable of achieving targeted performance?
- How
do you get consensus on what parts to modify?
- What
are the barriers to implementation?
Session
3: Strategy Mapping and Scorecards
Take
strategic management methods to the next level by applying them to the
dynamic modeling process.
Create
operational maps understood by diverse stakeholders and work backwards to
build a model from your organization’s scorecard or dashboard. Identify
leading indicators to initiate corrective action.
Session
4: Scenario Planning
Identify
multiple scenarios for the future of your organization, country or community.
Build model interfaces that facilitate scenario exploration of methods for
choosing among disparate outcomes.
Learn
software techniques for Monte Carlo simulations, linking to data sources, and
applying statistical tests.
About
the Instructor
Chris
Soderquist is the president of Pontifex Consulting. Since 1998 he’s worked
with organizational leaders to develop strategic solutions to complex issues.
His clients include: Alcoa, Boeing, Hewlett-Packard, Mayo Clinic, NASA,
Pfizer, Sony Ericsson, United Way, and the World Bank.
Chris’ first
applications of Systems Thinking occurred at Northwestern University where applied mathematical modeling to human decision making processes. He worked
with isee systems (then High Performance Systems) for over four years, where
he was a lead consultant, trainer, and learning environment developer. While
at isee systems he helped develop and deliver Introduction to Dynamic
Modeling with STELLA and iThink.
The author
of many articles on Systems Thinking, Chris contributed a chapter on the
Strategic Forum™ in, The Change Handbook: Group Methods for Shaping the
Future (Berrett-Koehler, 1999). Along with Barry Richmond, Chris
co-developed the interactive teaching tool Systems Thinking: Taking the
Next Step.
Course Requirements
- STELLA or iThink version 9.
- Apple
Quicktime Video Player
- Adobe Acrobat Reader
- Telephone connection with
conference call dial-in.
- Windows requirements for
web seminar:
- Internet Explorer 5.0+, Netscape Navigator 6.0+,
or Mozilla Firefox
- Windows 2000, XP Home, XP Pro, or 2003 Server
- Stable 56k, cable modem, ISDN, DSL or better
Internet connection
- Minimum of Pentium 400 MHz with 256 MB RAM
- Macintosh requirements for
web seminar:
- Mac OS X 10.3.9 (Panther) or newer
- Safari 1.3+, Firefox 1.5+ on a PowerPC G3/G4/G5,
or Firefox 1.5.0.2+ on Intel (JavaScript and Java enabled)
- Stable 56k, cable modem, ISDN, DSL or better
Internet connection
- MPowerPC G3/G4/G5 or Intel processor (G4 450 MHz
with 256 MB RAM)
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