Conceptual Foundation for the Usage of System Dynamics

AbstractThe description of the conceptual foundation for the usage of system dynamics involves a journey through a variety of disciplines: although it is based in mathematics, physics and engineering, system dynamics also draws on cognitive and social psychology, economics and other social sciences.86 According to Martinez and Richardson, conceptual differences in research designs can be discussed in terms of theory, method and procedure elements.87 The theories underlying the usage of system dynamics (why use system dynamics) are discussed in chapter B.II: Cognitive and Behavioral Rationale for the Usage of System Dynamics. The methods and procedures for the usage of system dynamics in organizational interventions (how system dynamics is used) are described in chapter B.III: The Development Process of System Dynamics Models in Corporations. Before the theory, method and procedure discussions, however, chapter B.I seeks to place the usage of system dynamics within the overall context of decision-making.KeywordsMental ModelSystem ThinkingConceptual FoundationSoft System MethodologyParticipative ModelingThese keywords were added by machine and not by the authors. This process is experimental and the keywords may be updated as the learning algorithm improves.