System Dynamics learnings so far
May 15, 2009 | 7:50 pmI have been busy studying system dynamics during the last few months and I have invested almost every spare hour into modelling scenarios of different characters. The course at UNESCO have come to an end. I have only good words to say about it and the head of the course, Juan Garcia.
The course started with a short theory part followed by a number of modelling exercises. I put some extra work into the practical modelling and policy testing to really digest it. The exercises consisted of descriptive text and a careful guide how to go about modelling it in Vensim. There were also a number of questions to be answered to deepen your understanding. I found it very challenging and rewarding to work from the text and I tried to do as much modelling as possible before following the guide. I had many interesting conversations with the professor why things behave as they do.
I strongly believe that in order to really understand systems thinking you have to study system dynamics. It is not enough to read about archetypes and general systems solutions. I also believe that in order to understand system dynamics you have to do practical modelling on your own. Not until you have wrestled with trying to express real situations or textual descriptions in a dynamic model you will begin to understand with the meaning that you see things in a new way. It is like learning a new, richer language.
I continue my system dynamics studies by working my way through the Jay Forrester DVD seminar and it is very rewarding. I highly recommend it.
My top resources among those listed here for system dynamics so far are:
Sterman, Business Dynamics – Systems Thinking and Modeling for a Complex World
Morecroft, Strategic Modelling and Business Dynamics
Universitat Politecnica de Catalunya and practical work with Vensim
Jay Forrester PhD Seminar in System Dynamics, DVD, 11 disc set
Other posts about this subject you might want to read:
System Dynamics Video course
Update on the system dynamics course
Me, a student
Hello Mr Vesterberg,
excuse me if I get in touch with you, I’m following up on a google search about the on-line SD course at the universidad de catalunya which has piqued my interest. My background is science and management and over time I have developed an interest in systems. To this end I recently completed the systems thinking courses offered by the Open University in the UK and ,wanting to expand my experience of the field, I have been looking for other courses. That is how I stumbled across the SD course in Barcelona. I just wanted to know how you found this course in terms of materials, contact with tutor, the amount of time it took you and what you have gotten from it, are you using what you learned and if so, how?
One thing I have picked up about systems thinking is that it can be difficult to find a local community of practice for support and information, hence my contacting you directly. What a wonderful thing the internet is.
Thanks in advance
Gordon K.
Hi Gordon!
Thanks for writing! I am quite enthusiastic about System Dynamics, so I am more than willing to help. I will get back to you in a few days because of a crowded schedule.
All the best
Anders