REPLY Future Development Directions (SD6277)

[System Dynamics Mailing List]

Posted by  Bill Braun <bbraun at hlthsys.com>

Paul Martin writes, "So why is the conversation about SD itself taking 
the direction it seems to be - towards the idea of 'right' and 'wrong' 
and bald comments about whether business is or is not political or is 
or is not rational etc."

Is not modeling, at its heart, the process of encouraging the expression 
of multiple mental models? If all of us had a complete and accurate read 
of reality, and the ability to track the interaction of every variable 
of that reality in our heads, I wonder if Jay would have perceived any 
need or value for SD in the first place.

This conversation is itself a group modeling effort (whether or not a 
model is actually being constructed). Our individual advocacies for a 
particular view of the topic at hand does not render any one of us 
polarized by definition.

I met with an internal SD client yesterday, and he said, almost in 
passing, "I can see how the conversation has changed since you started 
the modeling process - I wonder if a model will actually be needed?"

I find this conversation (and many others on this list) wonderful 
opportunities for synthesizing a broad array of divergent points of view.

Bill Braun 
Posted by  Bill Braun <bbraun at hlthsys.com>
posting date  Fri, 16 Feb 2007 07:42:54 -0500