Systems Thinking Case Study: Karen Avery
Q1. From a systems perspective, what factors do you believe contributed to the marginal results obtained by the various subgroups within the task forces?
According to Lunenberg (2010), schools are open systems although the degree to which they interact with the external environment may vary considerably, based upon the open-mindedness of administrators. The initial solutions offered by the task force reflected a closed mentality, in the manner in which they suggested options such as motivating teachers, total quality management, a return to basics, or other solutions which merely reconstituted previously-used and ineffectual frameworks (Razick & Swanson 2010). No input was solicited from the larger community in the other task force models until Avery intervened.
Q2. Identify and discuss instances of an aggregate mentality at work in this case.
An aggregate or community mentality suggests that the sum of an organization is more powerful than the components of its parts (Razick & Swanson 2010). The initial task force findings, however, proposed monitoring from within and focused on specific, individual components of school improvement rather than holistic, community-wide improvement of the school (Razick & Swanson 2010).
Q3. Would Karen today describer her school or school system as relatively open or relatively closed? Why? Classify the new model as open or closed. Why?
Today, after instituting her reforms, Karen Avery would likely describe her model as an open one. Avery’s model is centered upon making a good faith effort to have teachers act as guides, not disciplinarians, which disrupts the silo mentality of standardized education (Razick & Swanson 2010). Avery...
Reference
Lunenburg, F. (2010). Schools as open systems. Schooling, 1(1), 1-5. Retrieved from: http://www.nationalforum.com/Electronic%20Journal%20Volumes/Lununburg,%20Fred%20C.%20Schools%20as%20Open%20Systems%20Schooling%20V1%20N1%202010. pdf
Razik, T. & Swanson, A. (2010). Fundamental concepts of educational leadership and Management (3rd ed.). New York, NY: Pearson.
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