System dynamics modelling : a practical approach

More and more people are realizingthat socialand businesssystemsare too complexto be understood by intuition,compromise, and superficialdebate. But, the traditional social and managerial sciences are providing little help in designing policies for better behaviour of large dynamic systems. The rapidly growing field of system dynamics is increasingly seen as the best hope for dealing with multiple-feedback-loop, nonlinear systems that ex­ tend across many different intellectual disciplines. Conferences on the application of system dynamics to business are be­ cominglarger and more frequent. Many system dynamicsmodels deal with interactions between people and the environment. Use of system dy­ namics is under way in economics, government and the management of universities. The fieldneeds an expanding literature in each of the many areas where people are concerned with how things change through time. In this book, Professor Geoff Coyle has written a welcome addition to system dynamics. He brings to this book an extensive background as a leader in both the academic and operational sides of system dynamics. At the University of Bradford, Coyle founded one of the early academic programs in system dynamics.The extensive practical aspects of hiscareer are reflected here in experiences with systems in business and government. His professional background yields insights regarding both systems and the political and psychologicalaspects of working with clients. Content: Front Matter....Pages i-xiv Introduction to system dynamics....Pages 1-17 Influence diagrams....Pages 18-47 Influence diagram case studies....Pages 48-83 Introduction to simulation....Pages 84-110 System dynamics modelling techniques....Pages 111-139 Case studies in modelling....Pages 140-194 Policy experiments with system dynamics models....Pages 195-235 Optimization in system dynamics....Pages 236-248 Optimization in practice....Pages 249-296 Advanced modelling....Pages 297-305 The applications of system dynamics....Pages 306-345 Summary and conclusion....Pages 346-360 Errata....Pages 415-415 Back Matter....Pages 361-413

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This chapter introduces system dynamics and gives the reader a preview of what is to come.