The problem with microworlds is that too often people simply learn to play the game and the deeper lessons associated with the underlying structure and its associated patterns of behavior are completely missed. It is more appropriate for people to build and work with models to develop a deeper understanding of the relationships and then relate them to family, community, school and the world.

Causal loop diagrams are more rigorous than rich pictures though are still only contain a very few elements with well defined rules for connecting them.

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A simplification of the systems approach to deal with a situation.

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We are embedded in a larger system and unless we realize it an act accordingly we are likely to be the victim of it. From Introduction to System Dynamics: Overview by John Sterman

A system is an entity that the existence of which is maintained via the mutual interaction of its parts and which demonstrates characteristics not exhibited by any of its parts.

In this piece, we explore the counter intuitive nature of systems where the best of intentions to address the homelessness situation using the most expedient approach is likely to make things even worse.

How Systems Thinking World came to be where it is and where it's seems to be heading at present.

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Supply and Demand tend to oscillate back and forth though Price.

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Now that we have some context for the situation it's appropriate to begin to investigate, though possibly not where you might think. And the investigation is actually a bit hindered because management fired the accounts receivables department. What I'm really interested in is trends as to how things have evolved over time.

Network Magic's rapid growth creates a growing demand for resources. And the more they satisfy their customers the more difficult the problem becomes.

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The limits to results structure endeavors to bring a balance between a current state and a desired state though more often than not the action is limited by some constraint.  See also Archetypes.

One of the four basic model forms presented by Hannon & Ruth in Dynamic Modeling.

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Simple reinforcing loop causal loop diagram.

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While understanding the interacting components responsible for the situation is important it is even more important to understand the stakeholders as they are the ones responsible for the interacting components being the way they are.

Based on 1990 SDR Article. Control systems act to make their own input match internal standards or reference signals. Competent control systems create illusions of stimulus response causality. Stimulus-response theory can approximate the relationship between disturbance and action, but it can't predict the consequences of behavior. These consequences are maintained despite disturbances.

When the typical approach doesn't work we tend to rely on our tried and true problem solving approaches, which as you will see really aren't that good.

Derived from a model at the Meadows institute. http://bit.ly/zI4axo.

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A description of the essence and limitations of analysis.

This structure show the potential benefit from the development of a knowledgebase to support performance. With this potential benefit why is it so difficult for it to happen. What loops might be missing here.

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The simple diet SFD simulation elaborated to indlcue calories, calorie reduction and metabolism.

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An implementation of the classic Game of Life using agent based modeling.

Rules:

• A live cell with less than two alive neighbors dies.
• A live cell with more than three alive neighbors dies.
• A dead cell with three neighbors becomes alive.

To this point the Situation, Behavior, Model, Stakeholder and Boundary aspects of this situation have been investigated. It is now appropriate to consider the assumptions that have been made to this point and ensure we are on a solid foundation before proceeding to the Leverage and Strategy aspects are considered.

Storytelling allows you to build a display sequence for an insight so it can be unfolded to tell the story of the model. You can sequence primitive visibility, messages and javascript actions to unfold the story of the model.

An infinite number of mathematicians walk into a bar. The first one tells the bartender he wants a beer. The second one says he wants half a beer. The third one says he wants a fourth of a beer. The bartender puts two beers on the bar and says “You guys need to learn your limits.” From Wild About Math.