Biomatrix Management Education Programme in Systems Thinking
Because systems thinking is the worldview of the information age, all leaders and managers need to become systems thinkers.
Biomatrix Management Education Programme teaches middle and senior managers the key concepts and principles of systems thinking and their application in practical projects.
Conventional versus Biomatrix Management Education
In recent years, the conventional MBA and other management education programmes have been criticised for their emphasis on function specific education. Organisational and managerial realities, however, also demand synergistic cross-functional perspectives and decision-making.
Our programme, based on Biomatrix Systems Theory, provides this integrating perspective and addresses the reasons why management education is often found unsatisfactory. It can be used as the overarching framework for a management curriculum design, within which function specific modules are contextualised, enhanced and gain a new relevance.
Biomatrix Systems Theory describes the organising principles associated with natural systems as well as social and technological systems. It therefore provides frameworks for transdisciplinary research and debate.
Education institutions can be assured that the well researched and therefore theoretically sound systems theory provides comprehensive theoretical frameworks that produce relevant and systemic (i.e. synergistic) research results.
Conventional models of management education |
Biomatrix model of management education |
Management education focuses on business functions in isolation from each other. However, managerial practice and organisational
decision-making demand coordination and synthesis. |
During our programme, the learners contextualise information. The programme stresses the connectedness and interrelatedness of systems and their parts. |
Case studies used in MBA programmes tend to be generic. However, in practice, each case has unique features and is context specific. |
The project templates of our programme can be applied to any system as a case study, including the learner’s organisation, because they are derived from a generic systemic theory of organisation. During our programme, the learners apply the knowledge to their unique organisational setting. |
Different management models, concepts, tools and methods making up the typical MBA course are not contextualised by an overarching management theory, such as systems theory. |
Biomatrix Systems Theory provides an overarching systems theory of organisation and an overarching methodology for managing organisations. It lends itself as a framework within which all function specific management models, concepts, tools and methods can be incorporated. |
If systems thinking is taught at all, it is presented as another specialised subject, rather than as an integrating force.
If it is taught, only some of the various systems approaches are covered (e.g. systems dynamics, ideal system redesign, complexity theory, chaos theory, etc). None of them can be regarded as an integrative theory of organisation. |
Biomatrix Systems Theory is a meta-systems theory, which incorporates and extends the other systems approaches. |
Structure of the Programme
The programme consists of four modules.
Module on Systemic Problem (Dis)Solving
This module explains some of the key concepts of Biomatrix and General Systems Theory and systemic problem (dis)solving. Learners gain a deep understanding of the nature of complex systemic problems and how to analyse and (dis)solve them.
Module on Systemic Organisational Development: Project and Functional Redesign
In this module, we explain the management, development and (re)design of projects, functional systems and business processes. Learners are introduced to generic principles of organisation – the seven aspects of system organisation – and apply them to a relevant project.
Module on Systemic Organisational Development: Organisational Redesign and Transformation
This module explains the generic structural principles of systems and how to redesign organisations accordingly. It also provides an overview of governance, planning, knowledge and performance management designs in accordance with the organisational structure.
Module on Systemic Change Management
This module deals with different types of change that occur in a system, as well as frameworks, tools and methodologies for managing organisational and societal change.
Delivery of the Programme
The Biomatrix Management Education Programme is available in two versions, for individual learners and for organisations. Both versions involve action learning, during which the learners apply each theoretical concept to a case study relevant to their work situation.
Education Programme for Individual Learners
This is a purely e-learning programme offered via our webpage (commencing in August 2010).
Learning is achieved by watching videos and reading manuals online. The application is driven by online instructions, albeit with less detail than those of the in-company programme.
Education Programme for Companies and Education Institutions
This programme is delivered in partnership with an organisation or education institution (e.g. company academies or MBA programmes in universities).
It involves blended learning, a mixture between e-learning and face to face interaction. It incorporates both individual and team learning and application.
The blended learning programme is also part of our Change Management Programmes.
Duration of the Programme
Individual learners will have to spend about two to three full days per module to learn the theory and apply it to a project of their choice.
For in-company programmes, we suggest to allow one month per module, to allow sufficient time to apply the learning to projects relevant to the organisation.
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