System Dynamics Glossary
This is the System Dynamics Glossary compiled by David N. Ford and Accepted by Yaman Barlas. It was published on November 7th 2019 here: https://doi.org/10.1002/sdr.1641.
Introduction
As a narrowly focused dictionary, this glossary defines commonly used terms that are central to traditional system dynamics and some more general terms that have special meanings or particular importance within system dynamics. General terms that have no special meanings in system dynamics, application‐specific terms, and software‐specific terms are not included. The reader is referred to the relevant literature for those definitions, as well as detailed descriptions, explanations, and examples of the terms included here.
Click on the Concept to View the complete Description.
Concept | Description |
|---|---|
Rate | See flow. |
Reference mode | A behavior‐over‐time graph that depicts how one or more system variables change over time, often used in problem articulation to describe the dynamic hypothesis, and in model validation to test a model's ability to reproduce realistic behavior patterns. |
Reinforcing feedback loop | A feedback loop in which the sum effect of the causal links tends to strengthen (reinforce) the movement of variable values in a given direction due to positive feedback. |
Sensitivity analysis | Analysis used to determine how responsive model outputs are to changes in specific parameters, or policies or structures. Behavior that changes drastically suggests a critically important factor or high sensitivity. Conversely, if a large change in a parameter value or a structure results in small changes in behavior, that factor is not likely to be central to the dynamics in question; that is, the behavior shows low sensitivity. |
Simulation | The generation of the behavior of a system with a formal computer model. |
Sink | See cloud. |
Smoothing | Filtering out short‐term noise‐like fluctuations in a time series to detect or reveal underlying, significant patterns. |
Solution interval (computation interval, delta time (dt), time step) | The interval of time between successive computer calculations used to simulate behavior in a formal model. |
Source | See cloud. |
Stability (stable behavior) | Behavior in which the system moves toward equilibrium conditions after being disturbed or remains within specified limits. In an unstable system or region a disturbance is amplified, leading to increased growth, collapse or oscillation away from equilibrium. |
Stable equilibrium | A system structure and set of parameter values in which, if the system is moved away from the equilibrium conditions, the system tends to return to those conditions. See also unstable equilibrium. |
Stasis | See equilibrium behavior. |
References
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