The model construction process is actually a balancing loop which endeavors to employ an abstract version of real events to form a model which produces conclusions and behavior which mimic the real events.

The generic stock & flow form for a balancing loop.

Developing a strategy for dealing with a situation begins with a description of the situation and the preferred state for today, not in some distant future, and the perceived implications of not doing anything. There is a also a video for this insight.

To develop insights regarding a situation of interest there are a number of things should be considered to ensure a view of the relevant influences.

A Fixes that Fail structure is one where the applied fix makes things better for a while and then things go awry. There is a also a video for this insight which is a component of the Systems Archetypes Course.

Shifting the Burden/SFD is a segment of Systems Archetypes.

Introduce the concept of modeling and simulation.

A Limits to Growth Systems Archetype consists of a Reinforcing Loop, the growth of which, after some success, is offset by the action of a Balancing Loop.

Depicts a behavior over time graph.

A Tragedy of the Commons situation exists whenever two or more activities, each, which in order to produce results, rely on a shared limited resource. Results for these activities continue to develop as long as their use of the limited resource doesn't exceed the resource limit. Once this limit is reached the results produced by each activity are limited to the level at which the resource is replenished. As an example, consider multiple departments with an organization using IT resources, until they've exhausted IT capacity.

This fixes that fail diagram describes how people often address symptoms, but not fundamental causes.  Poke yoke is a design principle that operates in one of two ways.  One is to prevent the defect from occurring, which addresses the source.  This is ideal because there are no defective products to scrap or rework.

The other is one that prevents defective work-in-process from being passed on to the next stage.  This does not prevent the defect from occurring.  There is still the scrap and rework, but it prevents the product from reaching the customer.

Diagram from CDC conference.

21st Century Systems Thinking Skills as depicted b Viktor Vojko. Adapted from Systems thinking: critical thinking skills for the 1990s and beyond by Barry Richmond.

Addiction Systems Archetype Causal Loop Diagram.

Understanding Relationship and Their Implications: The Essence of AND?

Use the defined relationships and complete the loops to create a reinforcing and balancing structure. Demonstrate a hubrid version of the causal loop diagram with picdtures employed to depict the various elements of the structure.

Insight Maker is completely web based making it easy to develop and share models, allows concurrent multi-user editing, and just happens to be FREE, which a pretty good feature/price ratio.

Illustrates the effect of sleep, exercise, and lifestyle factors on one's level of energy.

Introduce the concept of modeling and simulation.

A quick set of examples for creating a simulation in Insight Maker.

The Home Heating System can be used to demonstrate how we get caught in dilemmas and become victims of ourselves.

Introduce the concept of modeling and simulation.

Balancing Loop with Delay Systems Archetype Causal Loop Diagram.

Balancing Loop with Stock & Flow Diagram.