Assessment
Aims:
This assignment aims to give you an opportunity to:
• Research and consider an issue of reasonable complexity using the concepts of
Systems and systems thinking considered in class and your research;
• Apply tools and techniques considered in class to capture your thoughts and ideas on the topic researched. Although the material relating to Causal Loop diagrams is not covered in lectures until later in the semester, you can commence your research on your issue and CLD based upon the references provided and your own search for sources.
Introduction and Requirements
The recent forest/bush fires and floods around the world have once again highlighted the vulnerability of communities to such events. Impacts of such events are felt not only by the immediate victims, but also throughout the community and the nation, as the effects flow through over time. Rise in insurance premiums and “donation fatigue” are some of these flow through effects. One concern that is being addressed globally is the need to foster resilience in communities to such events, as it is increasingly recognized that the world will need to adapt to climate change and its impacts as well.
Research the literature to obtain an understanding of “resilience” in this context. You may wish to start with the United Nations reference given later in this assignment, but do not confine yourself just to this one reference. Identify the factors that foster resilience and those that may work against it.
Create a detailed, carefully labeled CLD, based upon your understanding of the topic that summarizes your findings. Your CLD must clearly indicate the issues involved. Create a separate, but related CLD that captures your understanding from the perspective fostering resilience to ONE of the following:
a. Forest/bush fires, or
b. Floods, or
c. Earthquakes and Tsunamis, or
d. A disaster of natural or human origin in your country or region.
Provide some recommendations that the authorities might consider in their attempts to foster resilience. When formulating your recommendations, ensure that you keep a systemic perspective. You must provide evidencefrom the literature for your views, and your CLDs must support them.
Notes:
• Please note that there is no single “right” answer to the tasks above. I shall not be looking for the “best solution” for promoting resilience. What I will be looking for is your applications of the systems ideas and tools of systems thinking.
• Ensure that all your sources of information are properly acknowledged – via in-text referencing and through a reference list. Your references should belong to scholarly literature and/ or be articles reported in the daily media. See the subject outline for more information on referencing. The library provides very useful guidance online.
• I will accept hand-drawn CLDs provided they are neatly drawn and labeled.
Material that cannot be read easily will not be marked.
• Submissions with incorrect spelling and grammar will attract low marks.
• You are reminded of the UTS policy on plagiarism. Ensure that the format and referencing in your response is in accordance with the guidelines contained in the
Subject Outline, and any specific directions herein.
Length: A maximum of 3 A4 size, single sided, pages, not including diagrams and tables.
No appendices are allowed. Format must be as advised in the Subject Outline.
Hard copies (with appropriately signed coversheets) are to be handed during the first 15 minutes of class. Ensure that your name and student identifier appears on each page (header or footer). You also need to submit a soft copy into Turnitin, using the link in the
Assignments Submission folder in UTS Online. Remember to remove the cover sheet from your submission into Turnitin.
References: (Available via the subject LRM eReadings – link in UTSOnline)
The following references may be helpful to you in understanding the CLD.
• Kirkwood, “System Behaviour and Causal Loop Diagram”,
• Sterman, JD, “Causal Loop Diagrams”
The following is a good starting point for researching resilience:
http://www.unisdr.org/we/coordinate/hfa
