Workshop from the First Global Conference on Research Integration and Implementation: "An Introduction to System Dynamics."

Conference abstract: This workshop introduces the core concepts and patterns of thought of the system dynamics approach to complex problems: thinking dynamically, thinking causally, thinking about accumulations, and the key to it all, thinking endogenously. The session builds skills in the mechanics of defining problems dynamically, mapping system structure, and teasing out qualitative insights linking structure and dynamics. It introduces quantitative modeling, illustrating with a group model-based engagement on the problem of security of North Sea oil platforms during a technological transition. No prior experience with system dynamics is necessary, only an interest in deepening and expanding awareness of systems approaches to problems that persist over time.

Please note: in the section of this video on causal links, the '+' and '-' signs described by George Richardson are not visible on the slides. These signs can be seen in the slides of the Powerpoint presentation used in the video and available as a PDF at: https://i2s.anu.edu.au/wp-content/upl... (PDF 2.2MB).

Speaker biography: George P. Richardson is O’Leary Professor of Public Administration and Policy in the Rockefeller College of Public Affairs and Policy at the University at Albany, and affiliated Professor of Informatics in the College of Computing and Information. He is the author of Introduction to System Dynamics Modeling with DYNAMO (1981) and Feedback Thought in Social Science and Systems Theory (1991, 1999), both of which were honoured with the System Dynamics Society’s Jay W.Forrester Award, and the edited two-volume collection Modeling for Management: Simulation in Support of Systems Thinking (1996). He founded the System Dynamics Review and later served for seven years as its Executive Editor. Professor Richardson has been honored with awards from the University and the State University of New York for Excellence in Teaching (2003) and Excellence in Academic Service (2010). In 2011, the System Dynamics Society recognized him with its award for Outstanding Service for his contributions to the Society and the field.

The First Global Conference on Research Integration and Implementation was held in Canberra in Australia, online and at three co-conferences (Lueneburg in Germany, The Hague in the Netherlands and Montevideo in Uruguay), 8-11 September 2013.