Prerequisites
There are no prerequisites for this session.
Session Information
This one-day workshop provides a brief overview of system dynamics and a hands-on simulation experience, the Fishbanks management simulation. This session also serves as a preview of the more in-depth coverage available in courses offered at MIT Sloan such as 15.871 Introduction to System Dynamics, 15.872 System Dynamics II, and 15.873 System Dynamics for Business and Policy.
Systems Thinking and Modeling for a Complex World was taught in January 2020 during MIT’s Independent Activities Period (IAP). Each year hundreds of different activities and classes are offered during this four-week period in January on a wide range of both academic and nonacademic topics.
Resources
System Dynamics Classes Available on OCW
15.871 Introduction to System Dynamics
15.988 System Dynamics Self Study
15.879 Research Seminar in System Dynamics
15.875 Applications of System Dynamics
System Dynamics Classes at MIT
15.871 Introduction to System Dynamics
15.873 System Dynamics for Business and Policy
15.8731 System Dynamics: Tools for Solving Complex Problems
Books
Sterman, J. Business Dynamics: Systems Thinking and Modeling for a Complex World. McGraw-Hill / Irwin, 2000. ISBN: 9780072389159
Senge, P. The Fifth Discipline Fieldbook: Strategies and Tools for Building a Learning Organization. New York, NY: Currency Publishers, 1994. ISBN: 0385472560
Meadows, D., J. Randers, and D. Meadows. Limits to Growth: The 30-Year Update. Dennis Meadows, 2004. ISBN: 193149858X
Articles
Sterman, J. “System Dynamics at Sixty: The Path Forward.” System Dynamics Review. 14 September 2018. DOI: 10.1002/sdr.1601
Repenning, N.P. “Selling System Dynamics to (Other) Social Scientists.” System Dynamics Review. 12 January 2004. DOI: 10.1002/sdr.278
Rahmandad, H., R. Henderson, N.P. Repenning. “Making the Numbers? ‘Short Termism’ and the Puzzle of Only Occasional Disaster.” Management Science 64(3), 8 November 2016. DOI: 10.1287/mnsc.2016.2670
Repenning, N.P., J. Sterman. “Nobody ever gets credit for fixing problems that never happened: Creating and sustaining process improvement.” IEEE Engineering Management Review 30(4) 2002. DOI: 10.1109/EMR.2002.1167285
Repenning, N.P. “Capability Traps and Self-Confirming Attribution Errors in the Dynamics of Process Improvement.” Administrative Science Quarterly. June 1, 2002. DOI: 10.2307/3094806
Websites
MIT OCW System Dynamics Self Study
MIT System Dynamics Journal Club
Software
Resources on Jay Forrester
Dizikes, P. “The Many Careers of Jay Forrester.” MIT Technology Review, June 23, 2015.
Forrester, J.W. “The Beginnings of System Dynamics” (PDF). MIT D-4165-1 (1996).
Climate Policy Simulator
En-Roads Climate Policy Simulator
Just for Fun
Spurious Correlations (Tyler Vigen’s website)
