Riverbend Case Study

Using the case scenario provided, write a 5-7 page analysis of how the case study reveals the five disciplines and systems archetypes, as well as the relationship between cultural context and the organizational change inquiry processes in the organization.

Introduction

Analyzing case studies that detail organizational experiences of change can inspire potential solutions to effectively manage organizational transformation. This assessment provides an opportunity for you to gain insight into organizational change. Through your analysis of the events and stakeholders in the case, you will be able to advance your understanding of key course concepts as they appear in authentic organizational contexts. The case will prompt you to interpret events from various viewpoints and to identify crucial decision points in the case.

Instructions

Use this case study as the teaching case for your analysis:

• McKinney, L., & Morris, P. A. (2010). Examining an evolution: A case study of organizational change accompanying the community college baccalaureate. Community College Review, 37(3), 187–208.

Write a 5–7 page case analysis that consists of the following sections:

• Introduce the case.
  • Preliminary Introduction of the Case: Summarize the case. Provide a synopsis of the Community Collect case that enables the intended audience to understand the case, including events, stakeholders, and challenges that will be analyzed.
• Use disciplines of learning organizations to analyze problems of practice.
  • Disciplines: Apply the lens of the four core disciplines (personal mastery, mental models, team learning, shared vision) to the case, and provide an analysis of the extent to which each discipline reveals organizational dynamics and contributes to organizational learning or addresses the organization’s problems.
• Analyze the organizational disabilities and systems archetypes present in the case.
  • Systems Archetypes: Explain and map at least one example of a systems archetype evident in the case. Include at least one systems map as part of your presentation.
• Recommend change management strategies for the organization based on the case.
  • Critical Thinking Tools: Before suggesting change management strategies, demonstrate critical thinking tools to identify assumptions the stakeholders in the case may have made, and develop a set of questions you would ask to help the stakeholders in the case uncover their assumptions and clarify the steps needed for future progress. 
  • Four-Stage Change Process: Describe and explain how the four-stage process could be used by the Community College leaders to improve the strategic planning process that enhances the chances of success for one of the college’s initiatives. Explain how your set of questions would help uncover stakeholder assumptions and clarify steps needed for future progress. Refer to Stroh’s Thinking for Social Change text. 
• Propose an inquiry model to plan for next phase of organizational improvement.
  • Inquiry Cycle: Demonstrate and explain how an inquiry model such as ARPP or action research could be use by the college leadership to plan the next phase of improvement or change.
  • Recommendations: Provide a set of specific practical recommendations about how the president should proceed. Demonstrate how your recommendations align with the Community College’s mission, vision, and values.
  • Questions: Conclude with at least three discussion questions you would pose to help uncover team members’ assumptions and facilitate their inquiry into and understanding of the key concepts you have presented.

Additional Requirements

• Written communication: Communicate clearly, supporting a central idea in appropriate format with correct grammar, usage, and mechanics.
  • Visit Writing Support for resources and guidance.
• APA format: Follow current APA style and format.
  • Refer to Academic Writer or Evidence and APA in the Capella Writing Center.
• Length: 5–7 pages.
• References: As needed to support your analysis. 

Competencies Measured

The assessment instructions correspond to the grading criteria in the Teaching Case Study scoring guide. You may also want to review the performance-level descriptions for each criterion to see how your work will be assessed. The following demonstrates how the grading criteria are aligned to the competencies of the course.

• Competency 1: Apply systems thinking principles and tools to problems and organizations.
  • Analyze the organizational disabilities and systems archetypes present in the case, including at least one systems map.
• Competency 2: Use disciplines of learning organizations to analyze problems of practice.
  • Apply the lens of the four core disciplines (personal mastery, mental models, team learning, shared vision) to the case, and provide and analyze the extent to which each discipline reveals organizational dynamics and contributes to organizational learning or addresses the organization’s problems.
• Competency 3: Apply critical thinking to evaluate ideas and in interactions with others.
  • Identify a set of questions to uncover team members’ assumptions and facilitate inquiry into and understanding of the key concepts presented.
• Competency 4: Apply a change model to a problem of practice.
  • Explain how the four-stage change process could be applied to the case.
  • Present an action plan based on an inquiry model such as ARPP/action research, and explain how it could be used by the college leadership to plan, implement, and evaluate the next phase of improvement or change.
  • Recommend ways the president should proceed that align with the college’s mission, vision, and values.
• Competency 5: Communicate clearly, supporting a central idea in appropriate format with correct grammar, usage, and mechanics.
  • Provide a synopsis of the case that enables the intended audience to understand the case, including events, stakeholders, and challenges that will be analyzed.
  • Communicate clearly, supporting a central idea in appropriate format with correct grammar, usage, and mechanics.