week_5

System Dynamics Notes

Introduction

• Course: System Dynamics EG1300, Week 5

• Lecturer: Touraj Soleymani

• Institution: City St George’s School of Science and Technology, University of London

• Date: 27th February 2025

System Archetypes

• Patterns known as system archetypes regularly occur in various systems.

• Useful for identifying and analyzing common structures and behaviors within dynamic systems.

• Help in understanding complex systems, recognizing issues, and designing solutions.

  • Purpose:

    • Understand complex systems

    • Recognize and address systemic problems

    • Provide insights for interventions

Common System Archetypes

1. Limits to Growth

   • Describes a system where initial exponential growth is constrained by limiting factors.

   • Growth driven by reinforcing feedback loops but limited by balancing feedback loops.

   • Examples: Population growth (limited by job shortage), company sales (limited by raw material shortages).

2. Shifting the Burden

   • Describes a system where problem symptoms are treated with short-term solutions rather than addressing root causes.

   • Examples: Government incentivizing births leading to job shortages and population decline; Management pushing sales without addressing supply shortages.

3. Eroding Goals

   • System has a gap between current state and desired goals, leading to a lowering of expectations.

   • Examples: Student aiming for high grades but settling for passing due to lack of effort.

4. Success to the Successful

   • Involves disproportionate resource allocation where initial success leads to greater opportunities.

   • Examples: Employees recognized for early success get more opportunities, while others remain unnoticed; businesses with strong market presence attract more resources.

5. Escalation

   • Describes a situation where two entities continuously escalate their actions based on each other's success.

   • Example: Arms race between countries leading to increased military spending that causes economic strain; Academic rivalry among students leading to stress.

6. Tragedy of the Commons

   • System relies on shared resources leading to their overexploitation and depletion.

   • Examples: Overfishing and deforestation practices that lead to ecosystem collapse.

Solutions and Strategies

• For Limits to Growth: Address limiting factors, and manage growth sustainably.

• For Shifting the Burden: Focus on fundamental solutions, even if costly or time-consuming.

• For Eroding Goals: Set higher expectations and work consistently towards them.

• For Success to the Successful: Implement mentorship programs; promote equitable resource distribution.

• For Escalation: Establish mutual agreements and cooperative strategies to mitigate destructive competition.

• For Tragedy of the Commons: Enforce regulations, sustainable practices, and promote shared responsibility.

Conclusion

• Sustainable growth in systems necessitates a mindset of continuous improvement, cooperation, and system thinking.