Practical and Theoretical SD

[Monte]

Hello JJ,

You, many SD users, say that many SD books lack practical consideration; no real world example is provided in the books.

I think SD academics do the right thing to not include specific examples in their textbooks. Managers may seek for special case, but most SD academics are scientists who search for generality. So, managers should not criticize scientists for giving no specific example. Their purposes are different.

Managers must apply the general principles of SD to their specific cases (dynamics problems), whereas scientists must create such principles from a set of specific cases.

Books that give specific (real world) examples of application will be very useful for merely a small group of readers. By contrast, other books that give general (theoretical) examples of application will be somewhat useful for a larger group of readers.

Fundamental to SD is doing good science; the business is to give general principles. By general, we mean the principles apply to many situations in different points in times and space.

Managers should have ability to apply general principles rather than simply to adopt a particular principles.

[LAUJJL]

Hi Monte

Everythig is a question of motivation.
A scientific may be relatively satisfied with a good representation of reality, while somebody may be interested to change reality, and will consider that a 'good representation of reality' if it is not demonstrated by concrete applications has no interest.
It is not sufficient to teach good principles but one must too
show to use them, preferably with real cases.
Regards.
JJ