Introduce the concept of modeling and simulation.

How we know what we know.

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

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?

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

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

LinkedIn, YouTube

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.

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

Are there environmental/physical limits to humanity? Based on the Are There Limits? blog post by Tom Fiddaman.

When endeavoring to develop an understanding of the nature of something it is generally useful to create a model of some type to aid in surfacing that understanding.

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

The interaction of a population of Moose and Wolves.

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

This is a more Traditional Career Model of how education works, with an increased lifetime earnings from going to college. The following are links to the other two models in the series.

• Loan Cost Model
• Savings Model

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

Based on a sound realization of reality we need an effective approach to dealing with situations which promotes the requisite understanding to develop a strategy that deals appropriately with the situation. A strategy which also is explicitly designed to minimize unintended consequences and puts in place responses to them should they arise.

Joe P. is currently managing a project that's behind schedule and he's experiencing substantial pressure to get the project back on track.

Rain Barrel Model

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

The interaction of a population of Moose and Wolves.

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.

The issue of increasing private and government debt to banks is a major concern after the financial crisis of 2008 (see Figure at link given below). In order to understand why our society and government is increasingly indebted to banks we need to understand how our current money system works and why we need a continuous infusion of new money in a growing economy. “Why We Are Increasingly Indebted To Banks?” investigates the reasons behind this and suggest a possible solution.

Introduce the concept of modeling and simulation.

This is a more Traditional Career Model of how education works, with an increased lifetime earnings from going to college. The following are links to the other two models in the series.

• Loan Cost Model
• Savings Model