Rich Pictures, Causal Loop Diagrams and Stock & Flow Simulation Models are the three types of models most commonly used.

Rain Barrel Model

Based on 1990 SDR Article. Control systems act to make their own input match internal standards or reference signals. Competent control systems create illusions of stimulus response causality. Stimulus-response theory can approximate the relationship between disturbance and action, but it can't predict the consequences of behavior. These consequences are maintained despite disturbances. See also Double loop learning and Nurse Thinking Insights

There are about fifteen known archetypes with an interesting set of relationships among them.

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Yesterday's actions are responsible for the world we experience today. And today's actions are responsible for the world that we will experience tomorrow. The "Creating the Future" model is intended to provide a better sense of the common process associated with the unexpected unfolding of the future..

Balancing Loop with Stock & Flow Diagram.

This model is derived from the paper "Nobody Ever Gets Credit for Fixing Problems that Never Happened: Creating and Sustaining Process Improvement" by Nelson P. Repenning and John D Sterman. See Insight 752 for a causal loop version of this model.

Clone of IM-752 map for working simulation model This model is derived from "Nobody Ever Gets Credit for Fixing Problems that Never Happened: Creating and Sustaining Process Improvement" by Nelson P. Repenning and John D Sterman. An expanded map is at IM-1918.

When one undertakes to create a model there are a number of guidelines that are considered essential for consideration if there is to be a success with the model.

There are limits to what one can infer from a qualitative model.

All the following have a common characteristic.

How we know what we know.

The interaction of a population of Moose and Wolves.

What do activities of these images have in common?

The structure responsible for rabbit population growth.

What do activities of these images have in common?

From Jay Forrester 1971 book World Dynamics, the earlier, simpler version of the World 3 Limits to Growth Model. Adapted by Geoff McDonnell from Mark Heffernan's ithink version at Systemswiki.org.

Balancing Loop with Stock & Flow Diagram.

This model depicts the interactions of Aesop's Fable "The Boy Who Cried Wolf."

What do activities of these images have in common?

All you wanted to do was put a bird feeder in your yard to attract birds and make for a more pleasant morning. And...

There are about fifteen known archetypes with an interesting set of relationships among them.

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While these pictures represent very different things there is a common essence.

The interaction of a population of Moose and Wolves.