Course syllabus

1. Apply basic concepts connected to systems innovation
2. Identify, analyse and discuss challenges within current socio-technical systems in relation to future requirements for sustainability with backcasting
3. Reflect upon choices of different systems tools, as well as their possibilities and limitations
4. Create conceptual models of complex systems
5. Identify and define systems boundaries and scales within a system
6. Analyse cause and effect from a systems perspective
7. Identify reinforcing and balancing dynamic feedback mechanisms
8. Make a stakeholder analysis and lead dialogues in multi-stakeholder settings
9. Find strategic and relevant leverage points where initiatives can have large effects on a system
10. Identify and formulate problems/challenges in complex societal systems

Course design

Content

Organization

The course is organized based on a combination of lectures, a case and reflection:

• • Theory and Tools: Interactive lectures and literature with introduction of tools.
  • Case Work: A hands-on case where the tools are applied in real-world sustainability challenges in West Sweden.
  • Reflection: A reflection paper on systems thinking encompassing the whole course where you will reflect upon the tools and their use in the case.

Examination including compulsory elements

The course is examined through a group case and individual reflection assignments. Please scroll to the scheduling section at the end of this document for a list of all deadlines. 

Case:  

The case stretches the entire course. You work together in groups which may change throughout the course depending on how your interests evolve. You can also find information on this in the Content section above, and we will provide further guidance during the course introduction.  

Accompanying the casework are a series of submissions throughout the course. There will be one hand-in for each of the five modules, due on Fridays (noon). Handing in these assignments is mandatory. They are graded on a pass/fail basis and passing all hand-ins leads to passing the case. 

Weekly individual reflection assignments 

Starting in week two, you will upload a brief reflection assignment every week (up to two pages). These uploads are mandatory but are not graded. We want to ensure that you continuously reflect on three aspects:  

• The theories, concepts and tools you are introduced to in the literature and interactive lectures and workshops. 
• The quality of the outputs you produce, such as static or dynamic systems maps, leverage points, etc. 
• The processes of learning about theories, concepts and tools and of creating these outputs. 

You should upload your weekly reflections on Canvas every Thursday (23:59). You will also send your reflection to one of your peers and receive their reflection via email and will have time to read and comment on these reflections until Friday (23:59).  

We will also provide more information on the reflection assignments in the introductory lecture to the course.  

Final individual reflection assignment 

At the end of the course, you will write a final assignment where you will reflect upon the whole course. This will give you an opportunity to take a step back and reflect on what you learned and achieved during the course. You will submit the final assignment by January 16th (23:59). This final submission will be graded. 

We will provide more details on the content and format of this assignment lateron during the course. 

Mandatory attendance

All sessions are mandatory, and all students are expected to attend the sessions. Please contact the course coordinator if you cannot attend a session for some reason. Sessions will be held on campus. We follow the general Chalmers guidelines for on-campus activities. You can find general information on Chalmers guidelines here, and specific information for students here.  

If you have any concerns or questions about class activities on campus related to your own health or that of relatives, or if you need to stay home because you have symptoms, do not hesitate to contact the course coordinator. 

It is especially important to attend the first lecture on November 2, in order to claim your place in the course. Since we have a waiting list with students who want to participate in the course, it is important to attend the first lecture to claim your place. If you do not claim your place in the course, it might be given to another student. If you cannot attend the first lecture, inform the course coordinator via email. 

Submissions, revisions and re-examination

All submissions in the course should be done through Canvas, and submissions by email will not be accepted. Late case submissions may result in supplementary assignments.

Any revisions to the case or the written assignment should be submitted as soon as possible, but no later than two weeks after having received the feedback.

“Plussning”, attempts to increase an already passed grade, is not available for any part of the course.

Last year’s course evaluation 

This course occurs for the first time this year. We are looking forward to any feedback you may have for us to improve this course in the upcoming years! 

Course literature

All literature is posted on Canvas at course start. The literature should be seen as providing perspectives to the interactive lectures and workshops, not as a substitute to them. Hence, concepts might be presented during a lecture or workshop but not in the literature and vice versa. 

To support you in engaging with literature there will be reflective sessions throughout the course. Here, we reflect together over the quality of what we have generated so far and share experiences from the processes of doing so. 

The literature for each module will be posted on Canvas under Modules.