System Dynamics: from Theory to Practice

The title of this refers to the range of system dynamics applications. This range extends from use as experimental tools in theory development through to the practice of problem solving and investigation of real world behaviours. This paper takes a two-facetted view of the scope of and issues in system dynamics practice based on the author’s personal experiences. The first derives from his role as Executive Editor of the System Dynamics Review, and gives an analysis and interpretation of the range of articles that have appeared in the journal in the recent past. The second facet is a practitioner’s view of SD in practice, based on observations from his activities as an academic who consults and an erstwhile full-time SD consultant, and on the similar observations of others. These experiences point to a field where Forrester’s original concepts have proved highly successful where they have been used in practical applications. Barriers to wider use have largely been in the mechanics of the implementation process. These are now being overcome by the latest generations of SD modelling software which are catalysing the rapid expansion in practice, but these too bring their dangers.