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Course Topic: Modeling and Simulation of Causal Feedback Using System Dynamics
Description: Modeling & Simulation of Causal Feedback Using System Dynamics (3) - aims to provide a hands-on introduction to systems thinking and system dynamics in particular, as a powerful paradigm to understanding and addressing complex real-life problem situations facing organizations. Emphasis will be given to socio-economic and socio-technical problems facing organizations in government, businesses and other social contexts. Organizational issues typically involve multiple stakeholders and are characterized and driven by underlying causal feedback loops with varying loop dominances over time. Understanding these feedback systems is key to understanding and controlling the underlying structure that determines system behavior and performance over time. System dynamics (SD) is an offshoot of systems thinking. It represents a powerful problem-solving paradigm, based on synthesis rather than analysis. SD comes with a graphical language for modeling and depicting system structure and a computer simulation methodology used to refine system structure and experimentally explore desired system states. Students will learn the basic principles governing complex systems, graphical techniques for modeling and clarifying understanding of the underlying system structure driving behavior and use of computer simulation models for policy analysis and formulation of business strategy. Proposed changes in structure can be simulated and good management strategies identified. A principal focus in the course will be the significance of information feedback and circular causality in the behavior of socio-technical systems. We will make extensive use of software designed specifically for System Dynamic modeling & Simulation such as the Vensim or STELLA simulation software.
