Course
Syllabus
Session
1: The Modeling Process
Develop a
sound modeling process that takes you and your team from model conception to
creation (the modeling process is emphasized throughout the course). Learn
the language of stocks and flows along with necessary software mechanics.
- How can Systems Thinking
help explain the dynamics of a pandemic?
Session
2: Tracking System Attributes
Use models
to track key attributes through a system and find out:
- How skill level increases
as employees move through the human resource system (training,
evaluation, etc.).
- How pollution moves through
ecosystems like the Everglades.
- How changes in CAFE
regulations will impact the overall fleet fuel economy over the next
several decades.
Session
3: Modeling Market Dynamics
Build
models of attractiveness dynamics and explore:
- How price impacts your
market share relative to the competition.
- How community
attractiveness leads to urban sprawl and other land use issues.
Session
4: Modeling Supply and Demand
Build
models of supply/demand dynamics to see:
- The interrelationships
between total inventory (yours and the competition’s), price and market
demand.
- How the globalization of
food production and distribution impacts sustainability (economic,
social, environmental).
About
the Instructor
Chris
Soderquist is the president of Pontifex Consulting. Since 1998 he’s worked
with executives and middle-level managers to develop strategic solutions to
complex issues. His clients include: Alcoa, Boeing, Hewlett-Packard, Mayo
Clinic, NASA, Pfizer, Sony Ericsson, United Way, and the World Bank.
Chris’
background in Systems Thinking began at Northwestern University where he
first began integrating scientific methods with human decision making
processes. He worked with isee systems (then High Performance Systems) for
over four years, where he was a lead consultant, trainer, and learning
environment developer. While at isee systems he helped develop and deliver Introduction
to Dynamic Modeling with STELLA and iThink.
The author
of many articles on Systems Thinking, Chris contributed a chapter on the
Strategic Forum™ in, The Change Handbook: Group Methods for Shaping the
Future (Berrett-Koehler, 1999). Along with Barry Richmond, Chris
co-developed the interactive teaching tool Systems Thinking: Taking the
Next Step.
Course
Requirements
|
