There are three types of models most commonly used.

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 1899 for a simulation of this model and SysNet for a Video.

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.

This common archetype of systems that include relapse or recidivism allows exploration of the unintended effects of increasing upstream capacity and swamping downstream capacity. The increase in the relapse rate eventually returns to swamp upstream capacity as well. A social welfare example, based on a TANF case study, from How Small System Dynamics Models Can Help the Policy Process. N. Ghaffarzadegan, J. Lyneis, GP Richardson. System Dynamics Review 27,1 (2011) 22-44 Conference version at http://bit.ly/HlxtZj

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

What do activities of these images have in common?

A small change in one variable can have a marked impact on multiple variables. Run the model [quits change] = 0  and consider the output. What happens if  you change [quits change] = 5. Run the model to find out. Was the change what you expected?

The structure responsible for rabbit population growth.

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

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

The structure responsible for rabbit population growth.

This Romeo and Juliet Model was adapted by Geoff McDonnell from Michael J Radzicki (1993) Dyadic processes, tempestuous relationships, and system dynamics, System Dynamic Rev. 9 (1) :79-94

Balancing Loop with Stock & Flow Diagram.

Introduce the concept of modeling and simulation.

Simplest Innovation diffusion model from Sterman's Business Dynamics Ch 9

Consider the following "Sustaining the Forest" model intended to provide another example of how unexpected the behavior of a web of extended interactions can be.

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.

What do activities of these images have in common?

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

Balancing Loop with Stock & Flow Diagram.

All you wanted to do was put a bird feeder in your yard to attract birds.

All the following have a common characteristic.

All the following have a common characteristic.

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.