Business Case Studies & Business Publications

Operational Systems Thinking

Landel, Robert D.,...

Technical Note

Operational Systems Thinking

Landel, Robert D.; Soderquist, Chris

OM-1430 | Published December 2, 2012 | 16 pages Technical Note

Collection: Darden School of Business

Product Details

This note provides an introduction to operational systems thinking using the language of stocks and flows and guided by a scientific method-based mapping process. Operational mental models link explicit cause-and-effect relationships to the dynamics (behaviors over time) that unfold within the system. Such mental models improve students' ability to mentally simulate how different interventions in a system will affect its long-term performance.

Provide an introduction to operational systems thinking using the language of stocks and flows and guided by a scientific method-based mapping process.