User:Apdevries/System dynamics
System Dynamics is an approach to understanding the behaviour of complex systems over time. It deals with internal feedback loops and time delays that affect the behaviour of the entire system.[1]
What makes using System Dynamics different from other approaches to studying complex systems is the use of feedback loops and stocks and flows. These elements help describe even seemingly simple systems display baffling nonlinearity.
Computer software is used to simulate a system dynamics model of the situation being studied. Running "what if" simulations to test certain policies on such a model can greatly aid in understanding how the system changes over time.
System dynamics is very similar to systems thinking and constructs the same causal loop diagrams of systems with feedback. However, system dynamics typically goes further and utilises simulation to study the behaviour of systems and the impact of alternative policies.[2]
History
Systems Dynamics was founded in the early 1960s by Jay W. Forrester of the MIT Sloan School of Management with the establishment of the MIT System Dynamics Group. At that time, he began applying what he had learned about systems during his work in electrical engineering to everyday kinds of systems.
Elements
The elements of system dynamics diagrams are feedback, accumulation of flows into stocks and time delays.
Causal loop diagrams
Stock and flow diagrams
Simulation results
Practical application
System dynamics has found application in a wide range of areas, for example population, ecological and economic systems, which usually interact strongly with each other.
See also
- Systems Theory
- Systems Thinking
- Causal loop diagram
- Economics Chapter of the System Dynamics Society
- World3
References
- Sterman, John D. (2000). Business Dynamics: Systems thinking and modeling for a complex world. McGraw Hill. ISBN 0-07-231135-5.
- Meadows, Donella H. (1972). Limits to Growth. New York: University books. ISBN 0-87663-165-0.
- Senge, Peter (1990). The Fifth Discipline. Currency. ISBN 0-385-26095-4.
- Forrester, Jay W. (1961). Industrial Dynamics. MIT Press. SBN 262-06003-5.
External links
Organisations
- The system dynamics society
- MIT system dynamics group
- New England complex systems institute
- The systems thinker
- University of Bergen system dynamics group
- Creative learning exchange
Articles
- An annotated survey of the essential system dynamics Literature - 1992
- Simile Description
- System Dynamics and Systems Thinking
- Introduction to Social Macrodynamics: Compact Macromodels of the World System Growth
- System Models & Simulation (pdf)