In the Competency 1 Assessment, you created a Systems Thinking Diagram that mapped the stock, inflows, outflows, and feedback loops of your organization. As you become more familiar with your environment and the relationships and interactions between departments and people, you will begin to discover existing strengths and weaknesses. The analysis of the weaknesses and threats to a system is essential during the initial phase to make operational improvements, and it will reveal existing opportunities to plan and execute effective solutions. In this assessment, you will complete a SWOT analysis and a Gemba walk.
Complete a SWOT Analysis of your organization. Use the SWOT Analysis Worksheet and complete the following steps:
Complete a preliminary walk around the organization to scan the environment for strengths, weaknesses, potential opportunities, and potential threats (e.g., workflows, products, personnel, processes).
Follow up with additional research that may provide clarity on elements you are hesitant or indecisive to list.
Review your Systems Thinking Diagram from Competency 1 and determine if there are any details you can add or adjustments you can make to enhance your understanding of the organizational system.
Write an objective for your SWOT analysis.
List the organization’s strengths, weaknesses, potential opportunities, and potential threats.
Select the items that should be prioritized.
Cite 3 reputable references to support your SWOT Analysis (e.g., trade or industry publications, government or agency websites, scholarly works, or other sources of similar quality).
After completing the SWOT Analysis, select the areas in need of improvement, and narrow down the list of places to do your Gemba walk.
Complete your Gemba walk. While completing your walk, look for ways to eliminate inefficiencies, reduce waste, improve a product, or streamline a process.
Write a 500- to 750-word report on your observations of your Gemba walk in which you:
Summarize the organization (e.g., products or services, mission and vision).
Explain where you focused your Gemba Walk and why.
Provide Gemba observations.
What was the goal of your Gemba?
Where did you go?
What did you observe?
Who did you observe?
Give a preliminary analysis of your observations.
List key takeaways.
List one long-term and three short-term opportunities to eliminate inefficiencies, reduce waste, improve a product, or streamline a process.
Cite any references that support your work (e.g., trade or industry publications, government or agency websites, scholarly works, or other sources of similar quality).
Format your assignment according to APA guidelines.