Generic structures are central to the aspiration of our field. System dynamics has an explicit goal: to create integrative theories (= models) of different social systems which then make it possible both to understand specific situations and to produce generalisable insights (Forrester, 1961). To a large extent progress towards this goal has involved the use of generic structure causes some confusion because of the range of model types to which this term is applied. Recently this concept has been divided into three sub-definitions, a troika of interpretations 'generic interpretations' which aims to offer a sharper statement of style, purpose and application (Lane & Smart, 199). This work leads directly to the question of confidence. How can a group have confidence that a generic structure can be of use to them? How should researchers judge whether something qualifies as a generic structure? This paper attempts to advance debate on both of these questions. The aim is to explore the extent to which we can support our current confidence in generic structure and to indicate means of improving that confidence.

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Date created

• 1996

Type

• Document

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• Processing documentation available at: https://wiki.albany.edu/display/SCA/Processing+Ingested+Digital+Files

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• Creative Commons BY-NC-ND Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 4.0 International

  
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227da936724c4223c5a64764d3922694

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Collection

System Dynamic Society Records

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Collecting area

• This collection is part of the University Archives