Welcome to the Introduction to System Dynamics Modeling workshop (September 6, 2019) at the UNC Odum Institute for Research in Social Science!
Here you will find the Syllabus for the course: Syllabus
Presentations for day 1:
Dynamic Equilibria and System Archetypes
Unit reviews and exponential/logistic concepts: Ford (2009) Appendices A and B
In this class, we will use system dynamics modeling software to graphically represent complex feedback systems.
Vensim PLE (Personal Learning Edition) is a sophisticated dynamic modeling package that is freely available online. Vensim Personal Learning Edition (PLE) download: Vensim Free Download
A step-by-step Vensim tutorial can be found here: Building a simple Vensim model
STELLA is another piece of software that is not compatible with Vensim, but is easier to learn. For UNC users, you’ll find a tutorial for accessing STELLA 9 on UNC’s Virtual Computing Laboratory here: VCL STELLA Tutorial (note that the versions of remote desktop are now outdated).
Step-by-step STELLA tutorial from isee systems: STELLA tutorial
Additional System Dynamics Resources:
Donella H. Meadows. 2008. Thinking in Systems: a Primer. London: Earthscan. [PDF here]
Dietrich Dorner. 1997. The Logic Of Failure: Recognizing and Avoiding Error in Complex Situations. New York: Basic Books.
The system dynamics ‘bible’: Sterman, J. D. Business Dynamics: Systems Thinking and Modeling for a Complex World. Boston, MA: Irwin McGraw-Hill.
The latest version of the System Dynamics bibliography contains almost 10,000 SD-related references: SDS Bibliography
System Dynamics in Education Project: SD roadmaps
Academic and professional association: System Dynamics Society
Major journal in the field: System Dynamics Review
Book that most of my presentations are based on: Andrew Ford. 2009. Modeling the Environment: An Introduction to System Dynamics Modeling of Environmental Systems (2nd Edition). Washington, D.C.: Island Press.
Deaton, Michael and James Winebrake. 2000. Dynamic Modeling of Environmental Systems. New York, NY: Springer-Verlag. See: Chapter 1: Overview of Environmental Systems and Chapter 2: Basic Modeling Concepts in Environmental Systems. Pgs 1-65.
Collins, John F. 1974. Chapter 1: Managing Our Cities – Can We Do Better? In: Readings in Urban Dynamics: Volume 1. Edited by Nathaniel Mass. Cambridge, MA: MIT Press. Pgs 3-11.
Schroeder III, Walter W. Chapter 3: Urban Management Actions. In: Readings in Urban Dynamics: Volume 2. Edited by Walter W. Schroeder III, Robert E. Sweeney, and Louis Edward Alfeld. Cambridge, MA: MIT Press. Pgs. 31-48.
Sterman, J. D. (1991). A Skeptic’s Guide to Computer Models. In Barney, G. O. et al. (eds.), Managing a Nation: The Microcomputer Software Catalog. Boulder, CO: Westview Press, 209- 229.
Sterman, John D. 2006. Learning from Evidence in a Complex World. American Journal of Public Health 96(3): 505-514.