test 1

Question 1

System

Answer 1

interconnected set of elements that is organized in a way that achieves something. Has parts that affect one another and produce an emergent behaviour, (what comes out of the parts) which persists over time despite changing circumstances. A system is more than the sum of its parts.

Question 2

what three elements does a system consist of

Answer 2

Consists of three things: elements, interconnections, functions/purpose (systems are interconnected sets of elements)

Question 3

what do all systems have in common

Answer 3

parts that work together to help them function as wholes. They also have goals/purposes/ functions/ behaviors.

Question 4

Elements

Answer 4

do not have to be physical things. You can divide elements into sub-elements and then sub-sub elements.

Question 5

Interconnections

Answer 5

the signals that allow one part to respond to what is happening in another part. Many of the interconnections in systems operate through the flow of information. Changing interconnections in a system can change it dramatically.

Question 6

Stock

Answer 6

elements of a system that you can count or measure, see, feel or count at any given time. The foundation of any system.Stocks can change over time through actions of flow

• Noun
• Result
• Product state

Question 7

how do outflow/inflow affect stocks

Answer 7

Inflows increase stocks. Outflows decrease stocks

Question 8

Flow

Answer 8

material/ information entering or leaving system over time
- Verb
- Action
- Process
- Change
- motion

Question 9

inflow

Answer 9

Inflow meaning increase.

Question 10

outflow

Answer 10

Outflow meaning decrease

Question 11

Net flow

Answer 11

Determines behaviour of stock (inflow -outflow)

Question 12

Dynamic equilibrium

Answer 12

its level does not change regardless of inflow/outflow. it stays constant.

Question 13

Buffer

Answer 13

when a stock acts as a delay or shock absorber (ex. Having extra supplies in case there is a higher demand suddenly in a store). outflow becomes independent of our inflow

Question 14

Behaviour over time

Answer 14

usually in a graph to learn whether a system is approaching a goal/limit and how quickly.

Question 15

Feedback loop

Answer 15

A closed chain of casual connections from a stock, through a set of decisions or rules or physical laws or actions that are dependent on the level of the stock, and back again through a flow to change the stock. how a system run themselves (self- regulating). It is formed when changes in in a stock affect the flows into or out of that same stock. Information delivered by a feedback loop can only affect future behaviour.

Question 16

Balancing feedback

Answer 16

resists change. (Inflow) opposes whatever direction of change is imposed on the system. These loops are goal seeking or equilibrating. Stabilizing, Resists change, slowing

Question 17

Discrepancy

Answer 17

where stock is at and its goal. If your flow has a goal, it is usually balancing (ex. Difference between coffee degrees and room temperature)

Question 18

Goal-seeking growth

Answer 18

Balancing inflow

Question 19

Goal-seeking decline

Answer 19

Balancing outflow

Question 20

Reinforcing feedback

Answer 20

a vicious or virtuous circle that can cause healthy growth or runaway destruction. The loop enhances whatever direction of change is imposed on it. Found whenever a system element has the ability to reproduce itself or to grow as a constant fraction of itself. Self – enhancing, leading to exponential growth or to runaway collapses over time. One of the most important and common systems.
Destabilizing, Enhances change, Accelerating

Question 21

Exponential growth

Answer 21

the more is there the more is added. Reinforcing inflow

Question 22

Collapse

Answer 22

Reinforcing outflow

Question 23

Critical threshold

Answer 23

That divides two different kinds of behaviour . A certain level of stock which changes behaviour once the behaviour of the system is crossed.

Question 24

Cooperating feedback loops

Answer 24

both producing same kind of behaviour, same goal

Question 25

Competing feedback loops

Answer 25

(ex. Thermostat) when they don’t have the same goals, pulling in different dirctions
3 behaviours
1) Dynamic equilibrium
2) Goal seeking decrease
3) Exponential growth

Question 26

Shifting dominance

Answer 26

When one loop dominates the system and the resulting behaviour is exponential growth. System will behave the way one feedback loop wants it to.