Archive | 2019
Basic building blocks of system structure and behavior
Abstract
Abstract In the previous chapter, we noted that one of the basic characteristics of systems is that system structure is the source of system behavior. In this chapter, we focus on the practical mechanics of representing system structure, and on how system behavior is related to system structure. We present several modules composed of simple combinations of basic system components which provide useful building blocks for constructing a wide variety of system structures. System behaviors generated by these simple modules include (1) linear growth and decline, (2) exponential growth and decline, (3) logistic growth, (4) overgrowth and collapse, (5) oscillations, and (6) time lags. The intent is not to be exhaustive, but rather to present a relatively few basic building blocks that in our experience have proven useful as a point of departure for modeling many systems.