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System Dynamics Resources

The following links provide access to additional information about system dynamics:

Introductory System Dynamics Materials and Readings

• Stewardship Modeling



• Road Maps Self-Instruction Program
  
  
• Gene Bellinger, Mental Model Musings

University Programs and Individuals

• George Richardson, Department of Public Administration and Policy, University at Albany



• David Andersen, Department of Public Administration and Policy, University at Albany



• Eliot Rich, School of Business Administration , University at Albany



• The System Dynamics Group at the London Business School



• MIT System Dynamics in Education Project



• The System Dynamics Group, Department of Geography, University of Bergen , Bergen Norway . The System Dynamics Group is focused on model-based policy design.



• John Sterman, Head of MIT SD Group



• Desert Island Dynamics: An annotated bibliography of essential SD literature



• MIT System Dynamics Group
  
  
• Tom Fiddaman, Ventana Systems Consultant



• Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI) Corporate Education Program



• WPI Department of Social Science and Policy Studies



• Andy Ford, Author of Modeling the Environment, Program in Environmental Science and Regional Planning, Washington State University

System Dynamics Professional Organizations

• The System Dynamics Society is the principal professional organization for system dynamicists. Its website includes many helpful resources, including a listing of members, information about the annual SDS Conference, and a bibliography of SD-related publications.



• The Creative Learning Exchange
  
  
• SD Mailing List (Listserve hosted by Ventana Systems)

System Dynamics Software and Publishing Companies (Note that free downloads of basic SD software are available at software sites)

• Isee Systems (Makers of Stella© and IThink© softwares)



• Powersim (Makers of Powersim software)



• Ventana Systems, Inc. (Makers of Vensim® SD simulation software)



• Pegasus Communications, Inc.

System Dynamics Texts

Some recent system dynamics textbooks are:

• Sterman, J. D. 2000. Business Dynamics: Systems Thinking and Modeling for a Complex World. Irwin McGraw-Hill.



• Ford, Andrew. (1999) Modeling the Environment: An Introduction to System Dynamics Modeling of Environmental Systems. Island Press.



• Warren, Kim. (2002) Competitive Strategy Dynamics. John Wiley and Sons.



• Maani, Kambiz E. and Robert Y. Cavana. (2000) Systems Thinking and Modeling: Understanding Change and Complexity. Available from Pegasus Communications

Some classic system dynamics textbooks are:

• Forrester, Jay. (1961) Industrial Dynamics. Available from Pegasus Communications (Click on the System Dynamics link in the “Browse Products by Subject box on the left-hand side.). Jim Hines, a lecturer in system dynamics at MIT and Worcester Polytechnic, wrote in an email, "In my darker moments, I wonder if we've really learned anything new since the publication of Industrial Dynamics."



• Richardson, George and Alexander Pugh. (1981) Introduction to System Dynamics Modeling. Now available from Pegasus Communications (Click on the System Dynamics link in the “Browse Products by Subject box on the left-hand side).



• Roberts, Nancy, David Andersen, Ralph Deal, Michael Garet, William Shafer. (1983) Introduction to Computer Simulation: the system dynamics approach. Available from Pegasus Communications (Click on the System Dynamics link in the “Browse Products by Subject box on the left-hand side).

A few diverse system dynamics application texts are:

• Forrester, Jay. (1969) Urban Dynamics. Available from Pegasus Communications (Click on the System Dynamics link in the “Browse Products by Subject box on the left-hand side.)
  
  
• Forrester, Jay. (1971, 1973) World Dynamics. Available from Pegasus Communications (Click on the System Dynamics link in the “Browse Products by Subject box on the left-hand side.)



• Meadows, Donella H., Dennis L. Meadows, and Jorgen Randers (1992) Beyond the Limits. Chelsea Green Publishing Company.



• Saeed, Khalid. (1994) Development Planning and Policy Design. Aldershot, UK: Avebury Press.



• Lyneis, Jim. (1980) Corporate Planning and Policy Design. Available from Pegasus Communications (Click on the System Dynamics link in the “Browse Products by Subject box on the left-hand side.)
  

The main concept behind system dynamics is feedback thinking. To explore the history of feedback thinking, see:

• Richardson, George P. (1991, 1999) Feedback Thought in Social Science and Systems Theory. Now available from Pegasus Communications (Click on the System Dynamics link in the “Browse Products by Subject box on the left-hand side.)