Introduction to System Dynamics: Overview

MIT 15.871 Introduction to System Dynamics, Fall 2013
Instructor: John Sterman

Professor John Sterman introduces system dynamics and talks about the course.

License: Creative Commons BY-NC-SA

[marcosmarcos]

Elected 7 times BEST PROFESSOR by MIT Alumni

[edwinsaavedra]

System dynamics with John Stearman was one of the best courses I took in MIT.

[KlajdiHoxha]

Upload the videos please, that was an amazing introductory lesson. Ready to do everything to get the opportunity to follow these lessons in full !

[ritcheymt]

As a 22-year veteran of a nonprofit company that produces free products and services to the general public, this lesson was definitely enough of a prompt to hit the Subscribe button. Thanks! I've always enjoyed classes from professors who are at once knowledgeable, humble ("I can't teach you anything!"), and humorously self-effacing.

[ShadowsMasquerade]

I gotta get into MIT. BTW, most people aren't natural systems thinkers. They see a tiny part of the system and make a ton of assumptions based on their own biases, faulty beliefs, and past experience (this is a big one). It's interesting that he says models are always wrong. I think part of that is because you cannot accurately model 'reality.' But it is possible to perceive it as objectively as humanly possible (think metacognition, which means you can identify the limits of your own perception --
kind of paradoxical) and intuitively implement the most effective solution. Most exciting part about this, it goes far beyond business.

[mauroariascontreras]

"...all models are wrong, model is not the real system, only the reality is the reality.." This is gold. I remember a closely similar conclusion from an interview with David Bohm and many others, also with Krishnamurti.

[dresemini]

what a class.. whan an introduction class.. what a professor!!! amazing!

[sepehrshayan]

It is a pity there is no real Mooc or free online course to learn System Dynamics. It is still such a closed community.

[gianllucasimi]

We need all lectures for this module, MIT ! ☺

[mcnoodles]

His opening comments about teaching vs learning were music to my earsm

[karolinaristovska]

The world would be a better place if has more professors like him.

[fsmnobre]

Excellent class by Professor J. Sterman!

[davidsweeney]

I really like this class, thanks for posting!

[HS-llmr]

Fascinating summary of system dynamics.

[thanks]

Learning is kinda heuristic process, going round in circles, a very short version said in this video better known as Kuhn Cycle and its a picture.

[iancolley]

I think the diagram early in the session is wrong (at 7 mins 47 or so) - the linear movement from 'identify problem' through a few stages to 'implement' should not be labeled 'open loop' . It is a closed loop. Is this right?

[patmccormick]

This is a timely reminder and thought stimulator as to what the world is facing today.

[teet]

I love the way you break complex systems down. Good stuff!

[macprc]

I was wondering why he was considering the book heavy and there were no exams, then I noticed this is business system dynamics and not engineering.
It makes sense now

[alfonshomac]

So there's tasty food, 2 inches from your face, you can smell it, you can feel its temperature and right when you're about to take a bite, the video ends and there are no more lectures. =)