Assignment Directions

Now that you have completed a Gemba Walk where you have gathered information about the organization and identified opportunities to eliminate inefficiencies, reduce waste, improve a product, or streamline a process, it is time to take a closer look at these potential improvements and get to the root cause of why the issues are occurring. After reviewing these potential opportunities for improvements, you will analyze how you can apply systems thinking at the strategic level for your organization.

• Create either a 5 Whys or a Fishbone diagram for each of the opportunities (two short-term and one long-term) that you identified during your Gemba Walk. Work through each step of the 5 Whys or Fishbone processes to find the root cause(s) of each problem and the potential opportunity for its solution within your organization.
• Review the SWOT Analysis you completed in Competency 2 along with the diagram you completed above. Focus on the bigger picture that addresses your organization's overall strategy in terms of the strengths and opportunities you identified.
• Prepare a 500- to 700word strategy proposal that identifies 3 key organization strengths and the role they play in identifying and building upon 3 key opportunities that fit your organization's overall strategy.
• Identify the following in your strategy proposal:
• Elements of "chaos," identified through your 5 Whys or Fishbone diagram, that can be turned into "butterfly effects" or potential large-scale strategic opportunities for your organization. Potential opportunities for projects that apply creativity in the solution of identified "chaotic" issues or problems within your organization. Potential leverage points that will help your organization build on a strength(s) to take advantage of strategic opportunities.
• Describe how chaos theory applies to your strategic opportunities.
• Prepare a final system thinking diagram that focuses on strategic project opportunities for your organization.
• Cite 3 reputable references to support your diagram and paper (e.g., trade or industry publications, government or agency websites, scholarly works, or other sources of similar quality).
• Format your citations according to APA guidelines.
• Submit your assignment.

Competency Assessment Rubric Assignment/Performance Criteria Meets Expectations 85% 1. 5 Whys/Fishbone Diagram (weight 15%) The 5 Whys or the Fishbone diagram for each of the opportunities (two short-term and one long-term) that identified during the Gemba Walk was comprehensive; the root cause(s) of each problem and the potential opportunity for its solution within the organization were carefully worked out in each step. The 5 Whys or the Fishbone diagram for each of the opportunities (two short-term and one long-term) that identified during the Gemba Walk was adequate; the root cause(s) of each problem and the potential opportunity for its solution within the organization were somewhat carefully worked out in each step. The submission did not include a 5 Whys or Fishbone Diagram. 2. Organizational Strengths and Opportunties (weight 15%) The overview of 3 key organization strengths and the role they play in identifying and building upon 3 key opportunities that fit the organization's overall strategy was thorough. The overview of 3 key organization strengths and the role they play in identifying and building upon 3 key opportunities that fit the organization's overall strategy was adequate. The overview of 3 key organization strengths and the role they play in identifying and building upon 3 key opportunities that fit the organization's overall strategy was missing. 3. Strategy Proposal (weight 25%) The strategy proposal was comprehensive and included the clearly identified elements of \"chaos,\" identified through the 5 Whys or Fishbone diagram, that can be turned into \"butterfly effects\" or potential large-scale strategic opportunities for the organization; Potential opportunities for projects that apply creativity in the solution of identified \"chaotic\" issues or problems within the organization; and Potential leverage points that will help the organization build on a strength(s) to take advantage of strategic opportunities. The strategy proposal was adequate and included the elements of \"chaos,\" identified through the 5 Whys or Fishbone diagram, that can be turned into \"butterfly effects\" or potential large-scale strategic opportunities for the organization; Potential opportunities for projects that apply creativity in the solution of identified \"chaotic\" issues or problems within the organization; and Potential leverage points that will help the organization build on a strength(s) to take advantage of strategic opportunities. The strategy proposal was missing the required elements. Assignment/Performance Mastery Meets Expectations Not Met Criteria 100% 85% 0% 4. Chaos Theory The description of how chaos The description of how chaos theory The description of how chaos (weight 20%) theory applies to the strategic applies to the strategic opportunities was | theory applies to the strategic opportunities was thorough. adequate. opportunities was missing. 5. Systems Thinking The final systems thinking diagram, | The final systems thinking diagram, The final systems thinking Diagram focused on strategic project mostly focused on strategic project diagram was missing. (weight 20%) opportunities for the organization, opportunities for the organization, was was comprehensive. adequate. 6. References The student cited at least 3 The student cited 1-2 reputable The student did not cite (weight 5%) reputable references to support the | references to support the diagram and references. diagram and paper. paper