Ventana software support forum

Posted by ""Chawla, Chander"" <Chander.Chawla@T-Mobile.com>
Hello everyone,

I am new student of System Dynamics and recently jointed the System
Dynamics Society (SDS) after attending an executive program by Dr
Sterman. After speaking with my fellow co-workers about how useful it
could be to use SD in decision making, I booked half an hour meeting
with an executive to share with him what SD is and how it is used in
decision making.

Does anyone of you have a PowerPoint presentation on SD 101 that I can
use in my meeting?

Cordially,

Chander Chawla
Posted by ""Chawla, Chander"" <Chander.Chawla@T-Mobile.com>
posting date Thu, 5 May 2005 10:51:46 -0700

Posted by Bill Harris <bill_harris@facilitatedsystems.com>
Chander,

Best wishes as you begin to use a new tool in your work.

I've written two articles on this subject that might be of use. ""A
Heretical Word on Selling Systems Thinking to Your Manager"" is freely
available; you have to buy the somewhat more expanded ""Introducing
Systems Thinking into Your Organization"" from Pegasus Communications.
You can find links to both at http://facilitatedsystems.com/pubs.html.

Bill
- --
Bill Harris http://facilitatedsystems.com/weblog/
Facilitated Systems Everett, WA 98208 USA
http://facilitatedsystems.com/
Posted by Bill Harris <bill_harris@facilitatedsystems.com>
posting date Fri, 06 May 2005 10:58:02 -0700

Posted by Justin Lyon <justin1028@yahoo.com>
Chander,

I've found Designing the Future to be an interesting
read for executives interested in how SD can improve
decision making. It's a copy of a speach Dr. Forrester
made at the Universidad de Sevilla in Spain.
http://sysdyn.clexchange.org/sdep/papers/Designjf.pdf

Dr. Warren's book _The Critical Path_ is also a good
introduction for middle managers and executives. It's
available here: http://www.strategydynamics.com

Best,
Justin
Posted by Justin Lyon <justin1028@yahoo.com>
posting date Fri, 6 May 2005 12:10:44 -0700 (PDT)

Posted by ""Jim Thompson"" <james.thompson@strath.ac.uk>
Chander Chawla writes: ""I am new student of System Dynamics...I booked half an hour meeting with an executive to share with him what SD is and how it is used in decision making. Does anyone of you have a PowerPoint presentation on SD 101 that I can use in my meeting?""

With no experience to draw on, it would seem best if you explain the possibilities you see. If you draft a presentation, you might ask someone who is experienced in applying system dynamics methodology to review what you prepared. Otherwise, you risk misinterpreting another's work and saying more than you know.

Jim Thompson
Email:
james.thompson@strath.ac.uk
jim.thompson@cigna.com
Posted by ""Jim Thompson"" <james.thompson@strath.ac.uk>
posting date Sat, 7 May 2005 12:23:15 -0400

Posted by ""Goncalves, Paulo"" <pgoncalves@exchange.sba.miami.edu>
Chander Chawla asks about the availability of a PowerPoint presentation
showing the potential applications/success stories of the SD
methodology.

Many of us were directly or indirectly involved with a number of
successful projects, recall several different applications, but we may
not have a presentation ready, quotes and figures from executives, etc.
In my opinion, the issue of endorsing SD to new companies provides a
lingering opportunity for system dynamics (as well as other
methodologies.)

Several years ago, INFORMS launched the Edelman Award competition
showcasing cutting edge applications of OR in practice. In addition to
the high profile attention, finalists publish their papers in Interfaces
- a practice oriented publication in OR. People looking for examples of
OR in practice can easily refer to the publication. The presentations
are also videotaped and can be purchased from INFORMS.
http://www.informs.org/Edelman/dvd/index.html (FYI, Vince Baraba, Nick
Pudar, and Marc Paich's SD work regarding the decisions around the
introduction of OnStar at GM was among the finalists a few years back.)
A similar effort to award good SD work in practice is taking place at
the society. I remember a motion to explore the possibility/fund the
effort by Alan Grahan in the policy council meeting in 2003.

In addition, INFORMS launched a campaign last year (The Science of
Better) to try to tackle questions just like the one above. They provide
CEO endorsements of OR (originally presented during Edelman Award
competitions) in video and a host of other prospects for clients and
executives at www.orchampions.org and www.scienceofbetter.org

SD has a tremendous record of success in business. It may be time to
capitalize on such successes and start an effort to capture many of the
contributions of the methodology to business as well as disseminate them
more widely. That way we can be better equipped to answer future queries
like the one above.

Paulo Goncalves
paulog@miami.edu
Posted by ""Goncalves, Paulo"" <pgoncalves@exchange.sba.miami.edu>
posting date Mon, 9 May 2005 12:48:30 -0400