by The Open University
Available in 17 free installments
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Activity 2A sets the scene by focusing on the ‘big picture? where you will be asked to choose between four alternative visions of the future. This activity radically shifts the scale of investigation from the personal to the global. However, as with all systems, the emergent behaviour of society is a result of the interaction of its constituent parts, i.e. the dominance of particular cognitive styles and mindsets may actually result in particular futures. This activity concludes with a reflection on how the dominance of particular cognitive styles may result in particular futures.
In Activity 2B, I would like you to focus on the major challenges presented in a video programme from the Powerdown Show DVD ? although apparently concentrating on peak oil and climate change, a much wider range of issues is covered. As you watch the programme, it may become clear that all the issues presented are interrelated however hard the makers of the Powerdown Show have tried to differentiate between them. Yet, it is inevitable that society presents these issues as singular ‘problems?. Your challenge will be to demonstrate their interrelated nature and represent the various causes and effects you have identified into a single multiple cause diagram. This activity has been purposely planned to overwhelm individuals who just want to use a rational and analytical approach, so I would strongly encourage you to stick to the set timeframe, to base at least some of your investigations on spontaneous insights, and, most significantly, to work collaboratively within others.
This activity will ask you to use the multiple cause diagramming technique. Thus, the fundamental aim of this particular study unit is to help you develop your visual modelling and communication skills.
Original Copyright © 2008 The Open University. Now made available within the Creative Commons framework under the CC Attribution – Non-commercial licence (see http://creativecommons.org/by-nc-sa/2.0/uk/).
