REPLY Getting a Good Problem Statement (SD6598)

[SDMAIL Saeed, Khalid]

Posted by  "Saeed, Khalid" <saeed at wpi.edu>

Jim makes a good point. Defining a problem as a reference mode allows  one 
to develop at least a preliminary mental model subsuming the  phase 
relationships between the various trends in the fabric we call  a reference 
mode. Several years ago, I was assigned a small project  by the UN- 
Economic and Social Commission for Asia and Pacific to  create projections 
for trend in resources and environment for the  region. Given that the 
numerical data was fragmented and incomplete  and could never support any 
statistical projections, I was forced to  think of these trends as reference 
mode, which was well received by  the client even without mentioning a model. 
I later attempted to  document the process I used in the following article:

Saeed, K. 2003. Articulating developmental problems for policy  intervention: 
A system dynamics modeling approach. Simulation and  Gaming. 34(3): 409-436

Of course, as a system dynamicist, I had to develop a model, not as a  part 
of my assignment, but to personally conclude the project. This  model was 
written up in the following article:

Saeed, K. 2003. Land Use and Food Security — The Green Revolution and  
Beyond. In A. Najam (Ed). Environment, Development and Human  Security, 
Perspectives from South Asia. Lanham, MD: University Press  of America.

I’ll be happy to supply reprints if you write to me at saeed at wpi.edu

Khalid

Khalid Saeed, PhD
Professor of Economics and System Dynamics
Social Science and Policy Studies Department
WPI, Worcester, MA 01609 
Posted by  "Saeed, Khalid" <saeed at wpi.edu>
posting date  Sat, 8 Sep 2007 11:23:10 -0400