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6th Annual System Dynamics Competition by the South Africa System Dynamics Chapter

System Dynamics Competition

CORRECT TIME: 2 PM CENTRAL EUROPE

The System Dynamics Society’s South Africa Chapter is hosting a System Dynamics Competition that offers participants the opportunity to learn new modeling skills directly from experts, collaborate with others, and win prizes! The competition is suitable for beginners, whether or not they have experience.

System dynamics is increasingly essential as humanity faces increasingly complex challenges. System dynamics integrates various fields through systems thinking and mathematical computer-based simulations, improving decision-making and forging systemic solutions rather than symptomatic fixes.

This year’s competition is unique in that participants will receive a small, working simulation and will expand its structure to derive non-intuitive insights. The competition will run for three weeks, with meetings on Saturdays. There are three streams to choose from, and participants can join one, two, or all three:

  1. Fishery Industry – Exploring Fish Banks (15 April to 6 May 2023)
  2. Ecological Diversity – Predator-Prey (10 June to 1 July 2023)
  3. Pollution in Hydrological Systems – Streamco-Flows (12 August to 2 September 2023)

At the end of each stream, judges will award a prize, and an overall prize will be awarded at the end of the competition. We encourage all interested parties to join the competition, expand their modeling skills, and contribute to advancing the field of system dynamics.

REGISTER

MIT System Dynamics Seminar | Complex Contagions and the Hidden Influence of the Network Periphery

Please visit the MIT System Dynamics Seminars page for more information.

You are invited to attend the System Dynamics Seminar being held on Friday, April 21st from 12:30-2:00pm EST in the Jay W. Forrester conference room, E62-450, or via Zoom: https://mit.zoom.us/j/99908059742 (Password: SDSP23). Our guest speaker will be Douglas Guilbeault (Haas School of Business, UC Berkeley) presenting Complex Contagions and the Hidden Influence of the Network Periphery (see abstract and brief bio below, announcement attached). Lunch will be provided to those attending in person and a reminder email will be sent out closer to the date.

If you would also like to schedule a 30-minute 1:1 meeting with him before or after the seminar, please fill out the following Doodle poll by COB Tuesday, April 18th and I will confirm times and location with a calendar invite: https://doodle.com/meeting/participate/id/boZ0Rxja. Please notify me if you need to meet over Zoom instead.

Abstract 

The standard measure of distance in social networks – average shortest path length – assumes a model of “simple” contagion, in which people only need exposure to influence from one peer to adopt the contagion. However, many social phenomena are “complex” contagions, for which people need exposure to multiple peers before they adopt. In this talk, I argue that the classical measure of path length fails to define network connectedness and node centrality for complex contagions. I provide theoretical and empirical evidence that centrality measures and seeding strategies based on the classical definition of path length frequently misidentify the network features that are most effective for spreading complex contagions. To address these issues, I introduce novel measures of complex path length and complex centrality, which significantly improve the capacity to identify the network structures and central individuals best suited for spreading complex contagions. I validate this theory using empirical data on the spread of a microfinance program in 43 rural Indian villages. Implications for human cultural evolution are discussed.

About the Presenter

Douglas Guilbeault is an Assistant Professor in the Management of Organizations Group at the Haas School of Business. He studies how communication networks underlie the creation and diffusion of cultural content, such as linguistic categories and social norms. This investigation extends to how communication dynamics are shaped by various sources of influence, such as organizational culture and social media. His work has appeared in a number of top journals, including Nature Communications, The Proceedings of the National Academy of the Sciences, and Management Science, as well as in popular news outlets, such as The Atlantic, Wired, and The Harvard Business Review. Guilbeault’s work has received top research awards from The International Conference on Computational Social Science, The Cognitive Science Society, and The International Communication Association. He is co-director of the Berkeley-Stanford Computational Culture Lab, and he is a faculty affiliate of the Berkeley Institute for Data Science. He received his Ph.D. from the University of Pennsylvania, where he trained with sociologist Damon Centola in the Network Dynamics Group.

 

6th Annual System Dynamics Competition by the South Africa System Dynamics Chapter

System Dynamics Competition

The System Dynamics Society’s South Africa Chapter is hosting a System Dynamics Competition that offers participants the opportunity to learn new modeling skills directly from experts, collaborate with others, and win prizes! The competition is suitable for beginners, whether or not they have experience.

System dynamics is increasingly essential as humanity faces increasingly complex challenges. System dynamics integrates various fields through systems thinking and mathematical computer-based simulations, improving decision-making and forging systemic solutions rather than symptomatic fixes.

This year’s competition is unique in that participants will receive a small, working simulation and will expand its structure to derive non-intuitive insights. The competition will run for three weeks, with meetings on Saturdays. There are three streams to choose from, and participants can join one, two, or all three:

  1. Fishery Industry – Exploring Fish Banks (15 April to 6 May 2023)
  2. Ecological Diversity – Predator-Prey (10 June to 1 July 2023)
  3. Pollution in Hydrological Systems – Streamco-Flows (12 August to 2 September 2023)

At the end of each stream, judges will award a prize, and an overall prize will be awarded at the end of the competition. We encourage all interested parties to join the competition, expand their modeling skills, and contribute to advancing the field of system dynamics.

REGISTER

Digital Twin Business Models for Strategy and Operational Management

11 am NY | 4 pm London | 12 am Beijing | Time Converter

Digital Twin Business Models for Strategy and Operational Management

In the business field, dynamic models have long been used for simulating long-term plans (3+ years) and medium-term challenges and issues playing out over a few months or quarters. But models have also been used to understand shorter-term phenomena, such as in supply-chain and service-delivery cases. Often, though, the same structures and mechanisms operate over both short and long-time scales. Examples include customer acquisition and retention, and staffing (hiring, promotion, and turnover), and performance-improvement programs. This webinar will show how a single model can capture both short-term and strategic views of the same issue, enabling management to have a coherent long-term plan and to check the impact of that plan on short-term tactical episodes. Taken to the extreme, this approach can get close to offering a “digital twin” of a business or some part of the business, that closely matches its actual performance as well as the development of the wider system that drives that performance. Similar considerations may well apply to plans and challenges in other domains. In this webinar, you will learn:

  • The benefits of using System Dynamics to capture both short-term and long-term perspectives of a business issue.
  • How to design and implement effective digital twin architectures that can improve organizational performance.
  • Real-world examples and case studies of how System Dynamics and digital twins have been used to optimize business performance and drive competitive advantage.

About the Speakers

Kim Warren is the founder of Strategy Dynamics, helping organizations improve their planning and strategy implementation. Kim spent 15 years in senior strategy roles in business before joining the Strategy faculty at London Business School, where he taught MBA and Executive programs. Realizing limitations with existing strategy methods, he developed powerful strategy dynamics frameworks. Kim is the author of several books, including Competitive Strategy Dynamics and Strategic Management Dynamics, and has collaborated with leading consulting firms to extend the scope of Strategy Dynamics’ impact. His work has also been directly applicable to issues in international development. Kim has an engineering background, an MBA, and a Ph.D. from London Business School. He was awarded the Jay Wright Forrester Award by the International System Dynamics Society in 2005 and was the Society’s President in 2013.
Martin Lycko is a Customer Success Manager at Silico. Silico’s simulation platform empowers organizations to create Digital Twins that span teams and functions. With the ability to connect these Digital Twins to real-time data from across the organization, businesses can simulate the impact of decisions virtually in a Digital Twin of the Organisation.

2023 PwC Mark Paich Hackathon

More Details and Registration

Get ready for two exciting and intense days of collaboration and competition as teams come together for the hybrid PwC Mark Paich Hackathon. Starting on Friday, July 21 before the start of the ISDC2023, teams will compete to solve complex problems using System Dynamics and data science, with judging taking place on Sunday, July 23.

Don’t miss the chance to be recognized for your innovative solutions and join us at the conference banquet to celebrate the winners!

The Challenges: Artificial Intelligence or Health

The hackathon will require thoughtful consideration of new technologies and their potential. Participants will choose one of two challenges relating to Artificial Intelligence or Health.

Teams will have the opportunity to address questions regarding the use of new technologies that have the potential to bring about positive change and also carry significant risks if not thoughtfully considered.

Further details about the challenge will be revealed at the July 21 kickoff meeting.

Prizes

Teams will compete for recognition and a cash price of:
First $3,000
Second $1,500
Third $500

Exploring Careers in System Dynamics

11 am NY | 4 pm London | 12 am Beijing | Time Converter

Exploring Careers in System Dynamics

Join us for an engaging panel discussion on careers in System Dynamics featuring experts Sharon Els, Eduardo Romanovski, and Georg Pallaske, moderated by Shane Carnohan. This session will provide attendees with a look into the careers of three System Dynamics experts, with discussion and advice on pursuing and maintaining a successful career.

During the panel discussion, attendees will have the opportunity to hear about the panelists’ personal experiences, career journeys, and views on the field of System Dynamics. Topics that will be covered include the skills and knowledge needed to succeed, challenges and opportunities in the field, and integrating System Dynamics into real-world professions. Learn from their extensive experience working with government and corporate clients and gain valuable insights into addressing complex business challenges.

Whether you’re a student exploring your career options or a seasoned professional looking to collaborate or broaden your understanding, this panel discussion is an excellent opportunity to gain valuable insights and learn from experts in the field.

About the Speakers

Sharon Els is an expert in business modeling and simulation with over two decades of experience. Her extensive client work includes predicting market changes, optimizing corporate resource allocation, and improving project performance. She has advised corporate executives and government leaders on complex strategy, policy, and program challenges at various technology, aerospace, finance, gaming, and government organizations. Sharon’s insights and expertise have been instrumental in providing actionable recommendations and solutions to her clients. She currently works at Sage Analysis Group, where she continues to help organizations navigate complex business challenges.

Eduard Romanenko is a System Dynamics expert who holds a Ph.D. in System Dynamics from the University of Bergen (2022) and a European Master’s degree in System Dynamics (2014). He has been working as a full-time SD modeler and researcher for the past 3.5 years. Eduard has provided SD modeling capacity for various projects, including a project on urban stormwater management in Oslo and a 5-country EU-funded project on adolescent overweight and obesity. His contributions have provided insights into complex issues related to these projects.

Georg Pallaske is a System Dynamics expert and project manager with a passion for sustainability. He works at KnowlEdge Srl., where he develops customized analyses to support government decision-making. Georg is also pursuing a PhD at the University of Bergen, focusing on integrated sustainable development policies. As a project manager, he works closely with clients from inception to the presentation of results.

 

Call to Action: Connecting the World for Transboundary Groundwater Resilience

The Transboundary Groundwater Resilience Network is excited to announce its participation in New York Water Week (NYWW) to contribute to defining and solving water challenges worldwide. NYWW is comprised of many community-led events focused on helping solve global water challenges and bringing together researchers from across the globe who are dedicated to improving water management. NYWW is being held alongside UN Water 2023, the first United Nations dedicated water conference since 1977, which is committed to making a difference within global communities to solve the water and sanitation crisis.

This Call to Action event will make progress on the Connecting the World for Transboundary Groundwater Resilience (TGR) UN Water Action Commitment. Presentations on case studies, data analyses, network analyses, and simulation modeling methods will provide a basis for group discussion. Participants are encouraged to share best practices and priorities from their local regions and fields of study. This event will focus on data, systems, networks, and community-based approaches to foster Transboundary Groundwater Resilience.

Taking place on Monday, March 20, 2023, from 11am – 1pm ET (time converter here) this event will feature several speakers spanning multiple water disciplines, including Dr. Sam Fernald, director of the New Mexico Water Resources Research Institute, Dr. Ilya Zaslavsky, director of Spatial Information Systems Laboratory, San Diego Supercomputer Center, and others to provide current perspectives on transboundary groundwater resilience. This event will also include an interactive community participation session focused on audience needs and priorities related to transboundary groundwater research and management.

University of Bergen SD Prof. Saeed Langarudi will present

Title: Systems Science and Modeling for Transboundary Groundwater Resilience

Abstract: Transboundary groundwater resilience is a dynamically complex challenge involving multiple dimensions, such as natural, social, political, and economic components that interact in time and space. Disciplinary scientific methods are inadequate in addressing the issue’s dynamic complexity, especially in the policy design and implementation phases. To understand how transboundary groundwater resilience changes in response to our decisions and actions, we need to employ a wide range of analytical tools, including participatory systems mapping, dynamic simulation, and hybrid modeling approaches. In this presentation, we discuss how these analytical tools can contribute to our understanding and ability to control transboundary groundwater resilience.

and New Mexico Water Resources Research Institute (NM WRRI) researchers will present on case studies. They use SD in some of their work.

See the “Call to Action: Connecting the World for Transboundary Groundwater Resilience” event page on the TGR website for more details.

11th South Africa Chapter Conference

 The South Africa System Dynamics Chapter (SASDC) is hosting our hybrid 11th annual South African System Dynamics Conference to create a networking platform where researchers can present novel work which contributes to systems thinking, System Dynamics (theory, methodology or empirics), systems engineering, and operations research.

Extended abstracts should contribute to the conference theme of “Unifying Systems through Collaboration”. Topics may tackle the following subjects:

  • Health Dynamics
  • Sustainability
  • Education
  • Sociology and Psychology
  • Economics
  • Natural Resource Management
  • Technology
  • Policy and Governance
  • Transport
  • Hydrogen Economy
  • Circular
  • Economy

Attendee Registration: systemdynamics.org.za/11th-asdc-registration/

Presenter Registration: systemdynamics.org.za/11th-asdc-submission/

Full Paper template 

 DATE

DEADLINE

15-March

Call for submissions (short papers/ work-in-progress/ case studies)

25-Aug

Short paper / work-in-progress/ case study submission deadline

28-Sep

Notice of submission decision to authors

06-Oct

Author registration deadline

20-Oct

Preliminary program

31-Oct

Attendee registration closes

10-Nov

Final program & conference details

16-17 Nov

11th South African System Dynamics Conference

PRICING

 Category

Early Bird Registration 

Regular Registration

SASDC Members 

R250

R300

Non-SASDC Members 

R350

R400

SASDC Student Members 

R150

R200

Non-SASDC Student 

R200

R250

Virtual

R150

R175

Venue:

Eskom Research & Innovation Centre, Rosherville, Johannesburg, South Africa

Questions?

Contact: Nalini Pillay – Pillayna@Eskom.co.za

Introduction to Optimization with Stella

Do optimization and calibration confuse you? Are you not sure how to set them up in Stella®? In this free webinar, you’ll learn what optimization is, how to use it to optimize and calibrate your models, and how to resolve common pitfalls.

Join iseesystems in this one-hour webinar where Co-president Dr. Karim Chichakly introduces how you can use optimization in your Stella models. We will review some of the math behind optimization, learn how to set optimization up in Stella, and review several examples.

Register here: https://register.gotowebinar.com/register/3198059740957222752

MIT System Dynamics Seminar | First Look at ReThink Health’s Multisolving Investment Model, Part II

Please visit the MIT System Dynamics Seminars page for more information.

You are invited to attend the System Dynamics Seminar being held on Friday, March 10th from 12:30-2:00pm EST in the Jay W. Forrester conference room, E62-450, or via Zoom: https://rippel-org.zoom.us/j/86004993630 (Passcode: 767250)*. Our guest speakers will once again be Jack Homer, Bobby Milstein, and Chris Soderquist (ReThink Health) presenting First Look at ReThink Health’s Multisolving Investment Model, Part II. Lunch will be provided to those attending in person.

*Please note that we are using a different Zoom link for this seminar

Abstract 

Picking up where the Thriving Together Theater leaves off, this session will offer a first look at ReThink Health’s next-generation simulation tool, which we call a Multisolving Investment Model. This new tool will help stewards see for themselves WHY certain investments are especially powerful multisolvers in our quest to thrive together (such as efforts to establish racial fairness as a matter of system design; expand belonging and civic muscle; and secure the other vital conditions). As far as we know, this is the first dynamic model to track population-level changes in well-being separately by race/ethnicity, which in turn lets planners see how everyone benefits we invest more among those who have the most to gain.

During this “First Look” session, we will share (1) the origin story of this new model; (2) design features of a working prototype including a dynamic hypothesis, empirical sources, and calibration; as well as (3) insights from initial tests, including illustrative investment scenarios, optimization, and sensitivity to uncertainties. Together, we will discuss ideas for potential use-cases and facilitation options. But this session will largely concentrate on early insights from the new prototype model.

Technical Background: The new Multisolving Investment Model uses the vital conditions framework and builds upon two prior simulation models built to study investment scenarios. Here are background references about those three elements.

  1. Milstein B, Payne B, Kelleher C, Homer J, et.al. Organizing Around Vital Conditions Moves the Social Determinants Agenda into Wider Action.
    Health Affairs Forefront. 2023; Feb 2. https://tiny.cc/VitalConditionsHA
  2. Milstein B, Homer J, Soderquist C. How Can a Community Pursue Equitable Health and Well-Being after a Severe Shock? Ideas from an Exploratory Simulation Model. Systems. 2022;10(5):158. https://www.mdpi.com/2079-8954/10/5/158 (see also this self-guided online interface)
  3. Milstein B, Homer J. Which Priorities for Health and Well-Being Stand Out After Accounting for Tangled Threats and Costs? Simulating Potential Intervention Portfolios in Large Urban Counties. The Milbank Quarterly. 2020 February 6:1-27. https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/1468-0009.12448

Please visit https://sloangroups.mit.edu/saas/home/ for more information on all of the Academic Areas research seminars happening this semester.