Various PPT presentations

The first two presentations are videos of talks from a workshop in Canberra (2012) — an overview of important applications (“models that matter”), followed by an introduction to the field (how we do what we do). Then come five presentations of interest to different audiences: an overview of stocks and feedback loops in climate dynamics (to help address the climate crisis), a description of “starter” models (for group model building workshops), and a scholarly presentation of sliding goals in student achievement (exposing a serious modeling mistake), and a discussion of how thinking about the structure and dynamics of complex systems belongs in everybody’s tool kit.

  • A diagram titled "Modeling Project Dynamics" from the Rockefeller College of Public Affairs and Policy at the University at Albany, showing elements of project dynamics such as workforce, cumulative effort, task remaining, and undiscovered rework. Arrows indicate relationships and feedback loops between elements. The diagram includes terms like "net hiring," "perceived productivity," and "scheduled completion date."

    Models the Matter

    A voice and video overview of five impactful model-based system dynamics studies (Canberra 2012)

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  • Three word-and-arrow diagrams, only one of which is a true causal feedback loop.

    An Introduction to System Dynamics Modeling

    A voice and video presentation on creating system dynamics models for serious problems (Canberra 2012)

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  • Feedback loops shown as a causal-loop diagram and a stock-and flow picture.

    Feedback Loops in Climate Dynamics

    An overview of a number of important feedback loops in climate dynamics that aid understanding of the global climate crisis.

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  • Slide titled "Kinds of Starter Models for Initiating Client Conversations." Lists four models: "Surprise," "Overview," "Interactive," "Seed," each with an emoji and brief description. "Surprise" uses a thinking face emoji, "Overview" a flag, "Interactive" a basketball, and "Seed" a baby chick. Associated descriptions: "Jump start the conversation," "Orient participants," "Engage participants actively," and "A great start to a great model." Credits Rockefeller College of Public Affairs and Policy, University at Albany. Presented by GP Richardson at Bergen Conference, 2020.

    'Starter Models' for Group Model Building

    One way to begin a group modeling project uses a tiny model to orient the participants. This PPT illustrates four different types of starter models.

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  • Diagram from Stafford Beer's 'Cybernetics and Management' (1959) illustrating the concept of a 'cybernetic factory.' It includes components like black boxes for reducing variety and feedback controls for homeostatic ultrastability, with interconnected systems representing company and environment interactions. Text highlights key concepts.

    Feedback Thought in Social Science and Systems Theory

    Winner of the Forrester Award in 1991, Feedback Thought places system dynamics in its context in intellectual history.

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  • Conceptual diagram illustrating "Where Does the Goal Come From?" with a cycle detailing interactions between students' goals, achievements, pressures, and efforts. Features "Sliding goal" and "Striving to reach goal" loops, depicting dynamics of student achievement. Conference by G. P. Richardson at University at Albany.

    Sliding Goals in Student Achievement?

    A presentation of a serious study of the decline of the sophistication of texts in pre-college education. The model contains a dramatic, instructive error.

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  • All Planful Behavior

    Science Policy is not Science

    The problem is not science — it’s science and policy. It’s the emphasis on values that makes the problem of science and politics so wicked.

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  • Feedback Loops in Climate Change

    An overview of the dynamics of global temperature from water (ice, oceans, water vapor, clouds) and carbon and CO2 (in oceans, atmosphere, and earth biomass).

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  • Creating Critical Thinking using System Dynamics

    To understand the structure and dynamics of complex systems, our field uses graphs over time, hypothesized maps of system structure, and computer simulation models to keep it all grounded. Here we address in detail,
    Why Graph? Why Map? Why Model?

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