Index Catalog // Online Content | M.E. Grenander Department of Special Collections & Archives

Lane, David, "Diary of an Oil Market Model: How an Interactive System Dynamics Modeling Process Was Used with Shell Managers t o Resolve Conflict and Generate Insight"

Type:

Document

Date Created:

1995

Collection:

System Dynamic Society Records

Collecting Area:

University Archives

Collection ID:

ua435

Parent Record(s):

b83f2ce2912343b559f967dd985da515, 23d738ba88f8333bc39725f9cb5bd0b8, and 12420ec6bd5f758d2b4dea59aabd75a9

Description:

Managers involved in the refining and trading of oil had conflicting views on the relationship between output and cash generation in their market. A day by day account is given of a project in which the market was modelled. The models ostensibly represented the view of the Refining Strategy staff but consultation which other individuals allowed the views of the local Trading department to be represented too. The tools of system dynamics were used to articulate assumptions and to support a 'dialogue' in which disagreements regarding macro-behaviour were transformed into debates over specifics relationships. The repeated re-crafting of a STELLA model led to alterations in the interaction. In consequence, the participants aligned behind a single view of the market's behaviour, as well as admitting to increased respect for the expertise of the other group.