REPLY Open Source Simulation Software for SD (SD6792)

[SDMAIL Richard Stevenson]

Posted by  Richard Stevenson <rstevenson at valculus.com>

Stefano Armenia wrote:
> I believe that the 
> unavailability of a free software for SD might also be a reason for the 
> scarce submission of models or for the submission of poorly documented 
> models to the ISDC.

I could not disagree more.  

First, "free software" is a myth, as most users of poorly constructed 
and badly documented open source software will attest.  There is no 
substitute for well constructed, robust and well supported SD software 
that can be fully audited.  How much time do users of "free" open source 
software waste on problem shooting and web-surfing to find advice?  Is 
time "free"?

Second, it is my experience that most SD software suppliers have bent 
over backwards to accommodate academic researchers and students with 
licensing deals and low prices.  It is also my experience that there is 
almost no trick that some (by no means all) academics and students won't 
get up to to pirate software.

Third, any proposition that a lack of free software is a reason for "the 
submission of poorly documented models" is just absurd.  All the major 
SD software packages have excellent internal documentation facilities - 
and there are many other software products available for documentation.

Fourth, I suggest that the key reason for "scarce submission" of models 
to the ISDS is the paucity of interesting SD casework coming out of 
academia - and that it is not in the leastl due to lack of software. The 
"scarce submission" issue is also due to the fact that businesses and 
consultancies (who can easily afford the software) are discouraged from 
submitting interesting casework, not least by ISDS academic strictures.

I believe it is partly the management of ISDS itself that is responsible 
for lack of submissions - and for the low growth of the SD field itself. 
 My reasoning has been aired here in the past but can be summarised as: 

* the ISDS is a tiny, inward-looking, academically-focussed body that 
effectively discourages discussion about its own purpose and conduct. 
The ISDS has effectively become a cabal.

* in my own field of SD business application, there has been no great 
leap forward since "Industrial Dynamics" 50 years ago. The surge of 
business interest generated by "The Fifth Discipline" in the 1990's has 
completely dissipated - and not inappropriately so!

Jay Forrester's views his in "next 50 years" paper are highly pertinent. 
 In particular, he cites two great challenges - better education of 
system dynamics "experts", and using SD as an organising philosophy for 
a new kind of management education.  Those needs are indeed the keys to 
the future of SD.

So let's put away ideas that SD is constrained by the cost of software - 
it is not.


Richard Stevenson
Valculus Ltd
Posted by  Richard Stevenson <rstevenson at valculus.com>
posting date  Thu, 6 Mar 2008 17:39:00 +0000