The objective of this study was to evaluate the value of the extra time and cost required for different levels of data standards maturity and the corresponding likelihood of researchers complying with data standards. System Dynamics analysis was used in pursuit of this objective. Ten Brazilian and 18 American investigators were presented an online questionnaire with possible scenarios regarding options for data standards implementation, and asked to choose one of the two options presented. A preference for minimal (low cost) standards compared with both intermediate and full standardization was observed. A similar result was observed for time delay in project start-up. Investigators were more likely to incur costs than to accept a time delay in project start-up, and would prefer to implement the lowest possible level of standards that will make them compliant. Their preference is swayed when they are presented with a free alternative versus an expensive one.
The Industrial Technology Research Institute (ITRI) has been recognized as a successful example of nurturing the industry development through public industry R&D institutes. During its development process, ITRI has experienced several stages of strategy and organizational reforms. The evolution of the organiztional structure and the interactions of ITRI with its social-technological environment are complex and dynamic, and all together being important for ITRI to generate impacts to the industries. This study analyzed the development process of ITRI, and derived a system dynamics model to examine the structure behind the success experience. The results of the model are discussed.
A system dynamics model is built in order to study the sustainability of marine cage aquaculture. Profitability is assumed to be influenced by the availability of dissolved oxygen in the water, which is itself influenced by the farms effluents.
This study interprets why does Original Equipment Manufacture (OEM) suppliers choose to invest in relational-specific assets dedicated for foreign brand buyers without economic safeguards. By combining the case study method and inductive causal-loop modeling approach, this study model the ambidextrous strategies adopted by interviewing five Taiwanese OEM suppliers to initiate simultaneous both exploration and exploitation effects on their capability and transaction value in vertical transaction structure by exerting relation-specific investments in dependency-asymmetric OEM-supplier transactions. The study results theorize that the relation-specific investments made by weak contractual party can exert the ambidextrous effect on those specific assets with the dominant exchange partners for changing its bargaining position. The causal-loop diagrams highlight the managerial implications and strategic logics behind the unilateral asset-specific investments along the transaction dynamics.
The present paper discuss and demonstrate arguments in the use of the System Dynamics as a main approach to a new research area here named of Territorial Engineering. More specifically the aims are help the main stakeholders involved in the process to decide about the bankability of infrastructure projects. It is also considered the possibility of using agent-based modeling in the form of a hybrid model. This new research area wish establishing a new focus on infrastructure funding, whereby it is argued that the investment decisions should not be taken based solely on the gains obtained by users and indirect beneficiaries, but should also consider the infrastructures ability to accomplish an economic growth that may be captured fiscally. This proposition emerges from the limitations of the current funding approaches, both public (fiscal investment) and private (PFI and PPP), to cover the increasing construction and maintenance costs of infrastructure.
Planning under uncertainty requires reliable tools and methods for dynamic financial analysis. A financial and actuarial problem is how to consider returns of investment forecasts and foresees based on uncertain incomes and liabilities. To adress asset and liability management (ALM) problem one must model stochastic liabilities based on stochastic assets to set more reliability to investment policies simulators. This articles analyses a combination of methods and techniques to better model uncertainty to give to financial and actuarial analysts and actuaries a way to perform more realistic analysis of the solvency and liquidity, fuzzy logic and agent based modeling. The conclusion propose a framework where a combination of many methods and techniques are possible and useful to integrate all these approaches and, on an open system perspective as a way to manage long term investment policy based on current liabilities, both stochastic in nature.
Healthcare problems are complex; they exhibit both detail and dynamic complexity. It has been argued that discrete event simulation (DES), with its ability to capture detail is ideal for problems exhibiting detail complexity. However from the strategic perspective, System Dynamics (SD) with its focus on a holistic perspective and its ability to comprehend dynamic complexity has advantages over DES. Both paradigms provide valuable insights but none of them is capable to capture both detail and dynamic complexity to the same extent. It has been argued in literature that an integrated hybrid approach will provide more realistic picture of complex system with fewer assumptions and less complexity.
The purpose of the present paper is to build a system dynamics model for goal dynamics in organizations within a Dynamics Balanced Scorecard framework. In this paper it is proposed a model of goal dynamics in which Goal Setting and two other related Human Resources practices (Management by Objectives and Training) is viewed as a managerial tool able to enhance workers goal commitment, and therefore, improve organizational performance. In the first part of this paper, an analysis of Dynamic Balanced Scorecard - to measure performance in dynamically complex systems - and Goal Setting Theory - in bettering workers performance - are stressed. In the second part, a case-study, the causal loop and a quantitative model of goal dynamics in organizations are described. In the third part, the stock and flow model is depicted. Finally, scenario analysis is presented.
As part of New Zealands obligations to the Kyoto Protocol, New Zealand has developed an Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) as a mechanism to reduce its national greenhouse gas footprint, and to encourage and support global action on climate change. The forestry sector in New Zealand was the first sector to enter the ETS, effective from 1 January 2008. So far many forest owners in New Zealand have been slow to join the scheme. To investigate this situation further, a systems thinking group model building workshop was held to discuss the effects of the ETS on the New Zealand forestry value chain. A qualitative system dynamics analysis was undertaken, whereby a range of relevant issues was generated by a group of stakeholders, and based on these a set of causal variables was identified. These showed a strong bias towards an economic viewpoint of the basic issue being examined. Causal loop diagrams were made from these variables, and the dominant loops were briefly analysed. This paper will discuss some of the insights gained from this project to date.
Currently the most frequently used tools for investigating and learning from industrial accidents are based on linear, reductionist models of event causality. It has been suggested that complex socio-technical systems exhibit non-linear behaviour, incompatible with these approaches. An alternative approach based on system dynamics group model building is proposed and investigated within the context of the civil nuclear industry. The success and feasibility of the approach is assessed though the analysis of a case study event by a group of industrial experts previously unfamiliar with system dynamics. A selection of the models produced is discussed. The investigation demonstrates the feasibility of the approach and its potential to provide additional insights and learning. A possible archetypal structure is also identified and described indicating the possibility of the discovery of further archetypes through this approach which could then be shared for contextual learning between organizations and industries.