Emma Ware- CM5

I took a screenshot of the Tableau dashboard I learned to create through the tutorial! My Plectica map link is here: https://www.plectica.com/maps/2FE2R13VW/edit/8O6U9HJTF

• What is a system? Use DSRP to answer this question. What is a part? What is a whole? How can you apply it in health care administration?:

D- System: A system is a made up of parts that come together to create a whole. It can be one individual part or a group of parts interacting with one another to create a certain behavior or result. A system is NOT just one singular part.

S- What are the parts of a system?: It depends on the system! Most systems have many interlocking parts that work together toward one goal.

A system can be a part of a larger organization or used as a method to achieve a goal in an organization. Systems can be broken down into systems thinking (DSRP), which I am using now to breakdown ‘systems’ themselves! When looked at broadly, systems are just multiple parts that interact to form one whole.

R- The parts of a system are individual pieces, but they fit together to achieve the common goal of the system, whatever that may be.

P- Systems can be viewed from many different perspectives. It depends on what the system is being used for and who created it. Any individual involved in a system can have a different perspective on the system. If necessary, a system may be looked at from multiple perspectives to discover new information and methods of achieving goals.

Part: A part is an individual entity that can interact with other entities inside a system. These parts can interact with one another to create a whole.

Whole: A whole when applied to a system is a multitude of parts which have interacted and come together to create and build an entire system.

In healthcare, systems have to be created in order to have organization and a process for the complicated daily tasks performed in healthcare. Without a system, there would be no logical process to the administrative duties in healthcare. The ‘bosses’ or superiors in the companies would not have a logical flow of professionals to designate tasks to, and any insurance companies involved would not understand how their bills and payments would be handled. The patients, most of all, could be at risk of not having an organized way to understand chain of command/where to go or who to see if referred elsewhere.

• What is Measure in DMAIC? How can you apply it in Healthcare Administration?

In DMAIC, (Define, Measure, Analyze, Improve, Control) the Measurement portion is used to understand what exactly is being measured in a process and then looks at how it is measured. Once that is determined, measurement data is collected and then used as a baseline before analyzing and comparing all the data. Ideally, this part of the process will make sure that the data is reliable when it is being collected.

• What are three common myths or misconceptions about innovation?

Innovation is Good- People think all innovations are economically and socially valuable, but not all are beneficial. Some have unintended consequences and innovation usually creates a little chaos when implementing a new strategy/method, which can lead to more issues. There’s a Formula- “halo effect”: inferring things about a person or organization from our own impressions. A formula may not always work for one company as it has for another company. Success with innovation can change with different ways of implementing innovation. Innovation is Linear- Innovation does not follow a logical or predictable flow. Most innovation occurs with complexity, uncertainty and it has an indeterminate nature.

• What is complexity? What is a complex system? Provide examples of a complex system.

Complexity= The need to find a problem’s best solution out of a large number of possibilities.

Two types of complexity in healthcare: 1) combinatorial/detail complexity= # of interrelationships in a system, 2) dynamic complexity= nonlinearity, comes from feedback loop operation.

Complex System= “arrangements of interacting, interdependent parts that produce emergent behavior; collective behavior that cannot be predicted based on behavior of individual parts.

3 characteristics of complex systems: interconnectedness, nonlinearity, dynamism

Example: Healthcare administration is a very complex system because any small changes that might occur, such as switching the computer technology used in the ER can cause huge issues in the operations of the ER. Due to this small change, the work of the nurses and doctors might slow down as they try to figure out the operating system, the patients may be waiting for longer periods of time, and the waiting room might fill up with patients needing to be seen.

• How are complexity and feedback related? What is a reinforcing feedback loop vs a balancing feedback loop?

Complexity and feedback are related mostly due to dynamic complexity. Dynamic complexity occurs when feedback loops are operating within a system.

Reinforcing Feedback Loop: These amplify whatever is happening in a system. It helps the current system recreate and maintain what is already happening. Balancing Feedback Loops: Counteracts whatever is happening in a system. It creates an opposing effect to what is going in a system to try and prevent an imbalance/undesired effect from continuing.

• What does organizational learning mean? How can organizations promote this?:

Organizational learning is a multilevel phenomenon that incorporates knowledge from individuals and from groups to organizations, and the knowledge moves in a circular dynamic. Organizations can then provide groups and individuals with the knowledge that they have. It is also important to note that this type of learning is characterized by multiple different factors influencing knowledge creation, retention and transfer throughout the different levels of learning.

Organizations can promote organizational learning by realizing that this type of learning is influenced by organizational leadership, culture, policies and routines. The 5 characteristics of organizational learning should also be promoted: systems thinking, personal mastery, mental models, shared vision, and team learning.

• What is double-loop learning? What is the OODA Loop? Provide examples of how you can use it in health care administration:

Double-loop learning is a form of complex learning that happens when people try to solve problems by closing the gap between desired and actual states of affairs by modifying an organization’s policies, plans, values and rules that frame problems and guide organizational actions.

OODA Loop: The OODA Loop stands for ‘Observe’, ‘Orient’, ‘Decide’, ‘Act’ and is used to help people solve problems in a chaotic situation. It was developed by a military strategist and it allows people to think about what they need to do with a problem before immediately pursuing an action.

In healthcare, the OODA Loop could be used as a way to solve a problem involving being short staffed in a clinic. The administrative office should observe the problem and attempt to notice which areas of the clinic are struggling the most from the staff issue. Once they determine and orient themselves on helping out the struggling part of the clinic, they can decide on how to solve the problem. For example, certain parts of the clinic may be busier than others, so employees may be able to be reallocated to help out the busy areas. When a solution is decided upon, the last part of OODA is to act. The employees would be reallocated to work in the busier parts of the clinic and patients will be taken care of even with a lower number of staff than usual.

• What is the difference between single-loop learning and double-loop learning? How are they related to adaptive learning and generative learning?:

The difference between single-loop learning and double-loop learning is that single-loop learning looks for solutions for problems within an organization, whereas double-loop learning tries to close the gap between desired and actual states by modifying an organization’s policies, plans, values and rules.

Single-loop learning promotes adaptive learning, whereas double-loop learning promotes generative learning.

From what you have seen so far, how does this (adaptive and generative learning — as well as single and double-loop learning) relate to Swarm Learning?

Swarm Learning focuses on constant feedback. I can see how adaptive and generative learning relate to Swarm Learning, because adaptive learning allows people to change their behavior and processes to adapt and solve problems, and generative learning allows people to eliminate problems by changing the whole structure of a system. However, I do not see Swarm Learning relating much to single-loop and double-loop learning. I understand double-loop learning as it relates to students giving our thoughts on the class and questioning different policies and procedures of the class, but single-loop learning confuses me. We can look through our class’s policies and values, but I don’t know if we use it much in Swarm Learning.

• What is emergence? Why is important? Provide examples.

Emergence is when organizations are operating at the edge of chaos. When organizations operate this way, new ideas, processes, methods and relationships emerge that were not predictable or anticipated by observers or those involved in the organization. It is important because it promotes innovation and adaptability of an organization. Without it, an organization may be too rigid and unable to adapt or be innovative. If there is too much chaos, there are no rules to help maintain the organization’s structure.

For example, an organization that has been operating with complete stability, there may be an obvious lack of innovative ideas flowing throughout the system. Without some freedom for employers to use different ideas and methods, the organization may not be able to grow and expand.