System Dynamics Modelling and Analysis

Express knowledge and understanding

Students gain knowledge about the System Dynamics method and its relation to standard science, operations research, public administration and private management. They get to know the basics of dynamics systems (systems consisting of instantaneous and accumulating cause and effect relationships, feedback loops, nonlinearities, and delays). They learn tools for analysis such as causal loop diagrams, stock and flow diagrams, structure, graphs, equations and the simulation program Stella Online. This program is freely available. Students obtain knowledge about different ways to analyze and understand how cause and effect create development over time. In this respect system dynamics provides an important supplement to systems thinking. Finally students know about misperceptions and misguided rules of thumb that people typically use to manage complex dynamic systems.

Apply knowledge and understanding

To practice the new knowledge is very important and the MOOC (Massive Open Online Course) offers several types of training. Students are challenged to apply the tools and methods in quizzes, assignments, and in interactive learning environments (ILEs). Students also learn to apply structurally similar analogies to understand several important social challenges, where the most familiar situations serve as analogies for less transparent problems. At the end of the course students are able to construct and analyze dynamic simulation models.

Make judgements

Students develop systems thinking skills and an intuitive understanding of the scientific method. This changes the perspective the students have on how problems develop and on how problems can be reduced. It also makes the students more deeply interested in analysis. As a consequence, a high fraction of our master students end up in academia, in consulting, or in large organizations that set aside time for formal analysis.

Communicate

The diagramming techniques that the students learn can be seen as tools for effective communication at an intermediate level between imprecise narratives and complex mathematical models. Students learn a short recipe, P'HAPI, for project design and for effective reporting from projects. Students practice their skills both in discussions and in assignments.

Develop learning skills

After finishing the course, students typically have a new and different view on how dynamic social systems work. This encourages them to ask new questions such as: what are the important stocks and feedback loops, is behavior caused by external influences or is it created within the system (endogenously), do data indicate causal relationships or correlations, will the system counteract proposed policies etc. Once these questions are asked, they motivate analysis and learning.

Spring and autumn

Click on this link for information about how to sign up for the MOOC