Learning About System Dynamics

Over in the Architecture and Design department, I prattled on a bit about how security experts are warning that the coming security dangers are from inside organizations, not intruders. To make their case, researchers at the Software Engineering Institute modeled these threats using the System Dynamics methodology.

Okay, I admit I skimmed over "System Dynamics methodology" without giving it a lot of thought. Luckily, Len Malczynski stepped up to the plate, letting me know that the methodology is 50-years old this year and doing fine, thank you. At Len's suggestion, I went over to the System Dynamics web site and learned a few things, starting with what exactly Systems Dynamics is:

System dynamics is a methodology for studying and managing complex feedback systems, such as one finds in business and other social systems. In fact it has been used to address practically every sort of feedback system.

The site goes on to explain that the methodology:

• Identifies a problem,
• Develops a dynamic hypothesis explaining the cause of the problem,
• Builds a computer simulation model of the system at the root of the problem,
• Tests the model to be certain that it reproduces the behavior seen in the real world,
• Devises and tests in the model alternative policies that alleviate the problem, and
• Implements this solution.

I also learned that the System Dynamics Society is quite active, with distance learning programs, newsletters, and an upcoming conference later this year. The conference, which will be held at MIT, should be fun. Why do I think so? Because they'll be celebrating the 50th anniversary of System Dynamics -- and any society that uses a Beer Game to introduce concepts of system dynamics knows how to have a good time.

Thanks for the pointer Len. I enjoyed learning something new.

Posted by Jon Erickson at 12:52 PM  Permalink