Lessons from system dynamics modeling

The power and utility of system dynamics is best achieved by going beyond a model to implications and generalizations that can be drawn from the process of modeling. System dynamics papers too often stop with the description of a model. But models should become part of a more persuasive communications process that interacts with people's mental models, creates new insights, and unifies knowledge. In doing so, modeling uses the full range of available information-the mental data base and the written data base, as well as the numerical data base. The last century has been devoted to exploring the frontier of physical science. The next century will be the time for exploring the dynamic nature of social systems and using the resulting knowledge for improving institutions and economies.