Prompt: After working through the assigned resources in this module, create a problem catalog to begin exploring problems, problem situations, and the systems in which they appear.
Consider problems at various levels:
Worldwide, cross-national, and cross-cultural problems Nationwide problems, affecting all or most Americans
Problems specific to an economy, an environment, an industry, a company, or an organization
Problems specific to a population segment such as children, seniors, employed or unemployed, disabled, athletes, executives, engineers, women, and so on.
Note: Be sure to include at least two problems that are related to your own workplace, a former workplace, or a current or former organization that you are affiliated with (church, local government, nonprofit agency you volunteer for, etc.)
Consider using resources such as periodicals, newspapers, magazines, blogs, news websites, discipline-specific journals, conference presentations, and other sources found on the web or in the Shapiro Library. As always in your research, be aware of source credibility and possible bias (your own and that of your source).
List ten problems in your problem catalog and identify system elements, issues, concerns, and questions that would be needed to understand the entire system that contributes to the problem. See the “wrong” (Example One) and “right” (Example Two) examples below. For your own purposes, you should also note your initial thoughts about how the problem might be analyzed using systems thinking and research that might be needed.
Specifically the following critical elements must be addressed:
State at least ten problems, formulated in a way that leads to systems thinking. At least two problems should be related to your own workplace, a former workplace, or a current or former organization that you are affiliated with (church, local government, non-profit agency you volunteer for, etc.).
For each problem, identify the problem elements.
For each problem, identify the problem issues.
For each problem, identify the concerns and/or questions that one should consider when trying to understand the entire system involved in the problem.
Example Two: Systems thinking approach This problem statement and identification of issues allows you to begin understanding the system that is producing the problem situation:
Problem: In America, there are too many group shootings in schools and other public places.
Elements: Sources of guns, legal and illegal gun supplies, other weapons, victim injuries/deaths Issues: Gun availability to those who commit the crimes, motivations of shooters, protection of environments, types of guns used in crimes, and gun availability for defense/protection and alternatives
Questions: Are most crimes committed with legally or illegally obtained guns? What are the underlying societal issues that foster violence? What are the motivations of the shooters? How do we address underlying issues in a way that fosters nonviolent solutions? How can society as a whole intervene? Is arming oneself for defense purposes a deterrent to violent crime?
Guidelines for Submission: Your problem catalog should be submitted as a 2 page Microsoft Word document with double spacing, 12-point Times New Roman font, and one-inch margins. If sources are used, they should be cited using APA style.
