This course will cover the following topics in an interactive, participatory style. Participants will work in small teams.

DAY 1

Welcome (9:00 am)

	Why do we think the way we do? The origins of modern thinking
	What is a system and what is not? Systems and non-systems
	Why does the Healthcare sector need a systems paradigm?
	What is complexity and how to understand it?
	How do we make sense of the world? Four Levels of Thinking
	Why organizations fail? Patterns and systemic structures
	Why Systems Thinking is critical to Healthcare Organisations?

Morning Break (10:15 – 10:45)

	Learning the Systems Thinking Language
	What is a Circle of Influence? How to construct a Circle of Influence?
	How to predict cycles of growth, decline and stability?
	What can Healthcare learn from a thermostat?
	Reinforcing and Counteracting forces
	How to identify and reverse vicious cycles?
	Learning activity

Lunch Break (12:00-1:00)

	What do dot.coms and your dieting problems have in common?
	Understanding generic structures?
	Quality and Healthcare: the Ministry of Health case?
	Learning activity

Afternoon Break (2:45-3:15)

	Leverage vs. Problem-solving
	Why over-intervention is counterproductive? The perils of decision delay
	Hanover Insurance Case

Close

DAY 2

Welcome to Day 2 (9:00 am)

	New Zealand and overseas stories of Systems Thinking in Healthcare
	Modelling strategic issues in Healthcare
	(During this session participants will be working in small groups on selected issues)

Morning Break

Modelling strategic issues in Healthcare … continues

Lunch Break

Sharing and debrief of strategic issues in Healthcare

Afternoon Break

	Demonstration of Management Learning Lab
	How can organizations learn? Systems Thinking and Organizational Learning
	How to harmonise divergent Mental Models through Dialogue
	Top down vs. Emergent shared vision
	How to introduce Systems Thinking in Healthcare organizations?

Close