FUTR 6131: USING SYSTEMS APPROACHES

COURSE ASSIGNMENT:
Diagram or model one system.

During this class, we will be examining five different kinds of systems; the previous assignment asked you to offer two examples of each different system type.

For this assignment, choose ONE interesting or problematic system to analyze.
Then,

• describe the system;
• identify what is interesting and problematic enough to justify a system analysis;
• create a conceptual model -- a "causal loop diagram" -- which identifies the variables, the links between the variables and the loops in the system;
• describe verbally how this conceptual model explains the system behavior;
• create a basic simulation model using VENSIM PLE, and demonstrate that the simulation reproduces the system behavior;
• offer a summary:
  

how does the conceptual model assist in explaining/clarifying system behavior?-

what assumptions does the model require? If those assumptions are false, what alternative explanations might explain system behavior?

 

• recommend solutions based on your analyses:
  

what variables in the model might be changed to alter system behavior?

what other changes might result from your "solution"?

Each of the bullet points above represents at least one SOLID, well-structured, four to six sentence paragraph: about 1,250 words total.