Child Support Agency - Essay Example

Child Support Agency a) In what ways might studying and successfully finishing this T306 course may help you become a good systems practitioner? Explain your answer. Also, what does the term 'managing complexity' in the title of this course means to you so far. Support your answer with examples. ‘Action speaks louder than words’ and hence studying well and completing the T306 course successfully would not hold as much meaning as putting all that I learned into action. A good systems practitioner is in a very responsible position and therefore needs to fulfill these responsibilities to the best of one’s ability. Applying the knowledge acquired by putting it to best use would hold better meaning and compliment a good systems practitioner. In addition to this experience is a very good teacher and the more experience I get, the more useful it would be in helping me become an asset to any institution as a good systems practitioner. The term ‘managing complexity’ means many things to me. Firstly, as the phrase suggests, it means helping people in various difficult situations to overcome their fears and anxiety and make their lives more simple and easy to accept. Secondly, it means getting people who are in very complex environments to come to terms with their situation by finding good solutions for them. This would greatly serve to boost their confidence and give them enough courage to manage other complexities that they may face in future. For Example, if a lady is facing woman beating in an alcohol abusive marriage and there are children involved, helping her to come out of her complex situation and manage her life and family in the best way possible. (b) Discuss what you believe are the objectives and outcomes of using the following diagrams: 1. Multi–Cause Diagram and 2) Control Model Diagram Multi- Cause Diagrams Multi- cause diagrams are exceptionally very useful in finding out the root cause to any problem. It is a sort of brain storming with a whole lot of questions that arise from the situation or event which presents itself as a complex problem. These questions would give a lot to reflect upon and analyze the chief cause that led to the present complex situation. They serve to untangle one’s thinking, help better understanding and identify areas of intervention. E.g. divorce. Control Model Diagram The controlled model diagrams are used to visualize and analyzing a situation within a very limited framework to give a more clearer picture and thereby makes it easier to arrive at the solution and intervention stage. (a) (Qs.2) Based on your reading of the Child Support Agency (CSA) case in Block one (Appendix B), show your understanding and knowledge of the case by drawing a rich picture depicting this complex situation. According to the UK’s Child Support Act of 1991, children who are under the age of sixteen years (both male and female) are qualified and entitled to support and maintenance according to the terms laid down by legislation of the Government. Therefore, the Child Support Agencies (CSA) are responsible for obtaining and paying out such benefits to lone- parent families by way of support. Gradually, the escalating numbers of such lone - parent families increased at an alarming rate leading to a complex situation. The demographics increased to 1/5 dependant families and the government had to meet and expenditure that amounted to a staggering 6.6 billion in the 1900’s because payments made from non- resident parents decreased drastically from 50% to only 23% (From the case study – a billion is 1000 million) Unemployment was a major cause that contributed to this complex situation. b) What steps you may take to make sure your picture is meaningful and you are not falling into the traps of drawing a less effective picture. (5 points) In order to make the picture useful as well as meaningful, I would first of all Ensure that I have good knowledge with regard to being a good systems practitioner. I would also try to gain more experience in dealing with the different problems and situations faced by people. I would also like to put the knowledge gained into action besides showing concern and understanding to people who undergo these traumatic situations. Qs. 3 Play the role of a consultant or advisor who is asked to suggest actions or solutions to the CSA case situation by writing a report of no more than 500 words to explain your opinion about possible solutions or actions to take. Explain the basis for such suggestions. The CSA is an agency responsible for lending support to lone – parent families based on the legislation the UK government has drawn up. As a consultant and advisor, my position in giving advice to individuals become highly important because the decisions or actions I take impacts on the lives of every individual within the family situation. In a certain scenario where a lone parent has to get maintenance from a non- resident parent, I would first of all have a close talk with both parties separately explaining their rights and duties in this situation. I would also explain the financial obligations involved and make them feel responsible for their actions especially where the children are concerned. I would also enlighten them on the standard administration formula on which their maintenance obligations would be based. I would also stress he fact that no parent could shirk from their responsibility of providing maintenance for the support of their children. According to the White Paper published in 1990, titled ‘Children Come First’ all children of lone – parents had a legal right to care until they are old enough to provide for themselves. Qs. 4 Focusing on the attributes of the effective practitioner juggling the B ball, explain the significance of being aware of the possibilities and constraints of a situation being observed and/or engaged with. ‘Reflection is a practice of periodically stepping back to ponder on the actions of oneself and others in one’s immediate environment.’ (Raelin 2001; Seibert 1995) Reflection would be the chief attribute of a good practitioner, because it makes them more aware of the complex constraints that may arise in the situation. Reflection helps the practitioner to travel deep into the problem and helps them gain a clear picture of the necessary and responsible steps to be taken that would work for the good of the family. There are three primary areas that an effective practitioner should implement while dealing with a problematic situation. 1) Deeply reflect on how to find solutions to a practical problem, 2) Processing the events in a sequential manner, 3) Questioning the outcomes of the problem and arriving at suitable solutions. In other words, the system practitioner is like a researcher, who learns but at the same time devises new and better approaches to deal with various complex situations. Such an approach and practice would ensure a better impact created by the practitioner because of the experiences he has gone through. An activity-sequence diagram of the experience-action cycle involving purposeful action (Checkland and Scholes, 1990) Qs. 5 (a) There are two forms of behavior when it comes to purpose in systems thinking. By giving examples on each, explain the difference between purposeful behavior and purposive behavior. There are two forms of behavior with regard to purpose system thing. According to Checkland (1993) purposeful behavior is action that is ‘willed’ and involves voluntary action. The second is purposive behavior where a spectator could attribute a purpose. An iconic model of ascribing purpose to an action (Espejo et al., 1996) (a) Show your understanding with suitable examples the difference between the following terms within the context of systems thinking and practice: 1. Method A ‘method’ is a tried and tested pattern, just like a recipe, that is followed strictly without any deviations. 2. Methodology In relations to Systems, ‘Methodology’ can be manipulated to a certain extent by another participant and is not tried and tested like ‘Methods’. Anyone could adapt methodology according to a particular situation. 3. Tool A tool is something we use to effect a purpose or achieve something through its execution. A tool is abstract or it could be a diagram or map use within the Systems Practice framework. 4. Technique A technique is manner of making use of skills and abilities in order to achieve a purpose. For example doing a diagram to specifications. References Ari Heiskanen The Reflective Information System Practitioner Approach as a Research and Learning Expedient, University of Oulu. Checkland, P.B. and J. Scholes. (1990) Soft Systems Methodology in Action, New York, Wiley. Checkland, P.B. (1993) Systems Thinking, Systems Practice, Chichester, John Wiley & Sons. Published previously in 1981. Espejo, R. Schuhmann, W. Schwaninger, M. and Bilello, U. (1996) Organizational Transformation and Learning: A cybernetic approach to management, Chichester, John Wiley & Sons. Joyce Fortune, Case study (165) – Finance Support for children of lone parents. Multiple Cause Diagrams www.systems.open.ac.uk/materials/t552/pages/multiple/multiple.html Raelin J.A (2001) “Public Reflection as the Basis of Learning, Managent Learning, Vol. 32, No. 1, pp. 11 - 30 Seibert K.W (1995) Reflection in Action, Tools for Cultivating on the job learning conditions’ Organizational Dynamics, pp. 54 – 65. Read More