SDR Reformatting, Comment#3
Posted: Mon Apr 24, 1995 12:23 pm
On March 10 I submitted a plan to the SD Discussion
Group for reformatting the System Dynamics Review. It is
shown at the end of this email[clipped]. On March 20 I made some
additional comments on why a reformatted SDR would make
our journal into a more effective communication tool. Now let
me give one example of how this reformatting plan would work:
Khalid Saeed has been developing an important body
of work on the dynamics of economic growth and political
instability in developing countries over the past 15 years. This
work is very little known, yet it is perhaps one of the most
important areas of study.
The editor of SDR would invite Prof. Saeed to write
a target article on his most recent model in this area with full
modeling detail together with the insights that he and his
associates are drawing from their work. When this target
article has been received, the editor would send requests for a
critique from other system dynamicists who have published in
this area, such as Wolstenholme, Mandal, Paraymo,
Thirumurthy, Yamamura,J.M.Richardson, Mashayekhi, Bala,
Tasrif. (I have probably left out important modelers in this list.)
Requests for critique would also be sent to some high officials
in governments and agencies associated with economic
development, including the IMF and the World Bank. Requests
would also be sent to responsible key political commentators
from both North and South, both left and right.
All correspondance would be carried on through
email to cut down on editorial work. Money would be
supplied for additional editorial staff.
The key questions before us are: Are we ready to
increase communication, dynamism, and activity in system
dynamics and at the same time bear the pressure of the ensuing
controversy resulting from our "politically incorrect " journal?
Do we have to wait patiently 20 to 50 years, while people are
being educated in system dynamicists and while the world
disintegrates before our eyes, before taking action?
Arlen Wolpert
Independent Scholar
411 Franklin Street, Apt. 1008
Cambridge, MA 02139 USA
Telephone: 617-547-6994
email: awolpert@world.std.com
Group for reformatting the System Dynamics Review. It is
shown at the end of this email[clipped]. On March 20 I made some
additional comments on why a reformatted SDR would make
our journal into a more effective communication tool. Now let
me give one example of how this reformatting plan would work:
Khalid Saeed has been developing an important body
of work on the dynamics of economic growth and political
instability in developing countries over the past 15 years. This
work is very little known, yet it is perhaps one of the most
important areas of study.
The editor of SDR would invite Prof. Saeed to write
a target article on his most recent model in this area with full
modeling detail together with the insights that he and his
associates are drawing from their work. When this target
article has been received, the editor would send requests for a
critique from other system dynamicists who have published in
this area, such as Wolstenholme, Mandal, Paraymo,
Thirumurthy, Yamamura,J.M.Richardson, Mashayekhi, Bala,
Tasrif. (I have probably left out important modelers in this list.)
Requests for critique would also be sent to some high officials
in governments and agencies associated with economic
development, including the IMF and the World Bank. Requests
would also be sent to responsible key political commentators
from both North and South, both left and right.
All correspondance would be carried on through
email to cut down on editorial work. Money would be
supplied for additional editorial staff.
The key questions before us are: Are we ready to
increase communication, dynamism, and activity in system
dynamics and at the same time bear the pressure of the ensuing
controversy resulting from our "politically incorrect " journal?
Do we have to wait patiently 20 to 50 years, while people are
being educated in system dynamicists and while the world
disintegrates before our eyes, before taking action?
Arlen Wolpert
Independent Scholar
411 Franklin Street, Apt. 1008
Cambridge, MA 02139 USA
Telephone: 617-547-6994
email: awolpert@world.std.com