Adapted from 'An academic guide' produced
by Barry Richmond, Steve Peterson and Peter Vescuso to
accompany Stella systems modelling software (High Performance Systems)
Systems thinking is built around a progression
of structures.
·
Stocks and flows are the principal building blocks and prime movers of
systems.
·
Infrastructures are the next step in the progression. Infrastructures vary in
size and complexity. They are built up from various combinations of stocks
and flows. In diagrammatic form connectors are lines that represent flows into
and out of stocks.
·
Feedback loops are the final step in the progression. Feedback loops are
the relationships that link stocks to flows in various ways. In so doing, they
enable infrastructures to exhibit interesting dynamic behaviours, which
determine the stability of the system.
