Characterizing System Dynamics
Posted: Thu Nov 17, 2005 11:40 am
Posted by <R.M.Mooy@telecom.tno.nl>
Hi all,
What are fundamental properties of the method of Systems Thinking and/or System Dynamics? I've composed a list of properties that may be defined within these methods. My purpose for this would be to assess whether a given method of study displays Systems Thinking properties.
Is the list complete? Is it correct? Is it useful?
Please comment!
- Rutger Mooy
Systems Thinking Properties
Core elements
1 Interrelationship of components
A system consists of a group of interacting, interrelated or interdependent components (elements)
2 Boundary definition
A system can be defined by a boundary which determines the system's scope and separates its elements from elements in the system's environment
3 Holism
The presence of the whole system, as opposed to the collection of individual system elements, is explicitly taken into account as object of study
4 Feedback between elements
Elements within a system mutually influence each other, and, indirectly, themselves
5 Causality of relationships
Relationships between elements within a system are fundamentally causal
6 Dynamics
Behaviour-over-time of the system, including historical patterns of behaviour, are important in examining the system and its implications
7 Emerging behaviour
A system exhibits behaviour which is detected only when all sub-systems are interacting properly
8 Control of a system
Elements of a system may be controlled by actors, either from within or from without the system
Other elements
9 Non-linearity
Relationships within a system are usually non-linear and should be treated as such
10 Balance of long term and short term
A system usually has different behaviour in the short term, when compared to the longer term
11 The presence of subsystems
Within a system, elements may be part of functional subsystems which may be controlled by different actors
12 Combination of qualitative and quantitative properties Elements and their relationships within a system may be studied both qualitatively and quantitatively
Elements I'm not sure about
13 Visual language
A system can be described by a visual language to provide easy access to the inherent complexity and to facilitate learning
14 Hierarchy of subsystems
Subsystems can be classified into a hierarchical system of subsystems
15 Transformation process
A system has a transformation process, in which input elements are transformed into output elements
16 Focus on problem-solving
An important goal of describing a system is to solve a problem, rather than to describe the system
17 Focus on facilitation of learning
Examining a system may facilitate (interactive) learning and application of the results
Posted by <R.M.Mooy@telecom.tno.nl>
posting date Wed, 16 Nov 2005 15:36:38 +0100
Hi all,
What are fundamental properties of the method of Systems Thinking and/or System Dynamics? I've composed a list of properties that may be defined within these methods. My purpose for this would be to assess whether a given method of study displays Systems Thinking properties.
Is the list complete? Is it correct? Is it useful?
Please comment!
- Rutger Mooy
Systems Thinking Properties
Core elements
1 Interrelationship of components
A system consists of a group of interacting, interrelated or interdependent components (elements)
2 Boundary definition
A system can be defined by a boundary which determines the system's scope and separates its elements from elements in the system's environment
3 Holism
The presence of the whole system, as opposed to the collection of individual system elements, is explicitly taken into account as object of study
4 Feedback between elements
Elements within a system mutually influence each other, and, indirectly, themselves
5 Causality of relationships
Relationships between elements within a system are fundamentally causal
6 Dynamics
Behaviour-over-time of the system, including historical patterns of behaviour, are important in examining the system and its implications
7 Emerging behaviour
A system exhibits behaviour which is detected only when all sub-systems are interacting properly
8 Control of a system
Elements of a system may be controlled by actors, either from within or from without the system
Other elements
9 Non-linearity
Relationships within a system are usually non-linear and should be treated as such
10 Balance of long term and short term
A system usually has different behaviour in the short term, when compared to the longer term
11 The presence of subsystems
Within a system, elements may be part of functional subsystems which may be controlled by different actors
12 Combination of qualitative and quantitative properties Elements and their relationships within a system may be studied both qualitatively and quantitatively
Elements I'm not sure about
13 Visual language
A system can be described by a visual language to provide easy access to the inherent complexity and to facilitate learning
14 Hierarchy of subsystems
Subsystems can be classified into a hierarchical system of subsystems
15 Transformation process
A system has a transformation process, in which input elements are transformed into output elements
16 Focus on problem-solving
An important goal of describing a system is to solve a problem, rather than to describe the system
17 Focus on facilitation of learning
Examining a system may facilitate (interactive) learning and application of the results
Posted by <R.M.Mooy@telecom.tno.nl>
posting date Wed, 16 Nov 2005 15:36:38 +0100