Basic Model Building reviews and applies the modeling process to the development of four starter models that can open insight into a broad range of challenging issues. You’ll learn how the modeling process begins with a “behavioral focus” and how that focus establishes a foundation for building generic structures that can explain the dynamics of interest.

This four-session recorded web seminar series leads STELLA and iThink users through the creation of "starter models" that apply to business, health care, education, the environment and other systems.

Each class is followed with a question and answer session with Chris. Online access to these class recordings, sample models, handouts, and homework assignments are included to cement your learning.

Course Overview

Class 1: Population Movement

This session begins with a review of the modeling process. You'l learn how to avoid common modeling pitfalls before modeling a population movement, such as:

• patients progressing through treatment groups
• customers switching from one business to a competitor
• mammals migrating from one habitat to another

Class 2: Overshoot and Collapse

When populations exceed their carrying capacity and fail, they have experienced overshoot and collapse behavior. A huge fad that peaks then disappears is a good example of overshoot and collapse. This session will help you identify when there is potential for overshoot and collapse versus reaching sustainable equilibrium.

Class 3: Growth and Underinvestment

Investment and growth aren’t always consistent behaviors. Many systems experience excess capacity one month and not enough the next. Some startups never get past the startup phase. Learn how organizations can effectively manage time delays between sales efforts, production and capacity acquisition.

Class 4: Treatment vs Prevention

Symptom treatment versus prevention is central to health care—we spend billions treating chronic diseases at the expense of prevention services. It’s also present in other systems: schools invest heavily in the higher grades at the expense of early education, manufacturers eliminate “end of line defects” while ignoring their sources. Learn why we easily fall prey to treatment versus prevention and how we can reverse this focus.