Greetings!
I was asked to describe System Dynamics by my friends Father when I=20
visited her last summer.=A0 I am not sure if it would fit the elevator=20
scenario because it happened during a dinner conversation with my=20
friends family.
I dont remember exactly how I said it, so if I add or subtract any=20
details, I apologize in advance to my friend and her family.
Anyway here it is:
System Dynamics is a way to represent systems: socioeconomic,=20
sociopolitical, engineering, etc. mathematically in the form of a=20
computer model so that people can evaluate various strategies to=20
"control" the system without the real-life risk (and reward)=20
associated with each strategy and without having to wait for the=20
ramifications, to the system, of executing one strategy to unfold.
My friends Father inquired further about the process, so I explained=20
in the following.=A0=20
The process involves simplified representation of how materials,=20
resources and information flow within the physical structure replica=20
of the system governed by policies and decision rules that are active=20
in the system.=A0 The process helps sharpen the understanding of how the=20
system works: how the states of the system evolve as a function of=20
time as a result of the existing structure of the system that also=20
includes physical structure as well as policies and decision rules=20
that are put in place to control the system.=A0 The lessons learned will=20
then enhance the ability to design policies and decision rules to be=20
put in place to control such a system or to improve the states=20
(performance) of the system of interest.
Obviously the above conversation lasted more than 30 seconds, but if I=20
remember it correctly, the first portion of my explanation took at the=20
most 30 seconds (in between bites of food).
In less than 10 words, I would summarize SD methodology (or way of=20
life, according to Jim Hines) as "Connection and Timing."=A0 In one=20
word, the methodology has similar ramification to that in the word=20
"Karma."=A0 Let me explain the Karma part: Present situation is a result=20
of past action and past condition.=A0 The future condition depends on=20
the present action and situation.=A0 The way of thinking afforded by SD=20
methodology allows people to think of the (future) unintended=20
consequences of their action due to the "feedbacks" or "circular=20
causalities" in the system.
Benny Budiman
besbud@aol.com