Leadership
Leaders are systems thinkers.
Interactive learning environments can be tested with methods from the learning sciences to determine whether they make people better systems thinkers — and hence better leaders.
Worcester Polytechnic Institute
Understanding Complex Systems through Dynamic Modeling and Simulation, and Interactive Learning Environments
We study how complex systems behave, how people make decisions within them, and how simulations can help individuals and organizations make better decisions.
Structure
To change behavior, change structure.
To permanently change a system's behavior requires redesigning its institutional structure, rather than simply addressing the symptoms of a problem.
Trade-offs
Persistent problems in complex feedback systems have trade-offs, not silver bullets.
Every proposed redesign is scored on multiple attributes. A multi-attribute metric makes the weights explicit so experts and stakeholders can see what they are trading.
How a project moves
01
Model the persistent problem
02
Enhance the model with information on how people actually make their decisions
03
Turn it into an interactive learning environment
04
Scientifically test to see if users learn