ARAB OPEN UNIVERSITY FACULTY OF BUSINESS STUDIES T205B – SYSTEMS’ THINKING THEORY & PRACTICE 2017/2018 SEMESTER II T205 B - TMA- Semester II - 2017– 2018 _____________________________________ Question 01 (100 % marks) (a) Read through the attached C

ARAB OPEN UNIVERSITY
FACULTY OF BUSINESS STUDIES T205B – SYSTEMS’ THINKING THEORY & PRACTICE
2017/2018 SEMESTER II

T205 B - TMA- Semester II - 2017– 2018
_____________________________________

Question 01 (100 % marks)

(a) Read through the attached Case study “Toshiba’s Accounting Scandal”. As you read through the article create one spray diagram to summarize the case content respecting the conventions, and techniques. It is advised that students submit hand drawn diagrams as opposed to computer generated ones. Photocopies of diagrams should not be accepted. Reflect on your diagram in no more than 200 words. (15% marks).
(b) Based on what you learned in T205B concept file 04 section II “Control”, and based on the content of the article, and taking “Fixing corporate culture” as your goal draw one closed loop control model diagram to show the various inputs, and the transformation process, that can lead to reaching this goal. You need to show all the components of the control model diagram, the inputs’, processes, control (actuator, comparator, sensor), that can lead to goal achievement . Reflect on your diagram (15% marks)

(c) Using an essay format of no more than 2500 words, and based on what you learned in T205B concept file 04 section I “Organizations are They Rational”, readings 01 and 07, section III “Structure”, section IV development, section V culture and climate, and section VI “Decision Making” and based on the ideas put forth in the attached case study:

1- Discuss the concept of organizational goals and the three categories of goals, and assess the existence of goal displacement and pluralism at Toshiba. (Word Count 500; 15 Marks)
2- Discuss the management approach at Toshiba, and the extent of employees’ empowerment and teamwork. (Word Count 250, 05 Marks)
3- Discuss the concepts of organizational culture and climate and assess Toyota’s culture and climate. (Word count 400; 10 Marks)
4- Assess the extent to which Toyotas culture and climate and the unwritten rule of behaviors lead to the accounting scandal, (Word count 400; 15 Marks).
5- Discuss the different perspectives on decision making and assess how the decision-making process at Toshiba has affected the managers ability to resist pressures to inflate profits from top management (Word count 400; 15 Marks).
6- The investigation report mentioned that the interference of old generation of managers and their refusal to fully retire affected organizational culture and performance. Discuss the concept of organizational learning, and assess how the older managers’ attitude and power, can affect Toshibas ability to be a learning organization; justify your answers with evidence from the case (300 words; 10 Marks).