Course : T553_1 Systems Modelling (1999)

Categories: Education • Modelling • Systems Thinking

Tags: course • education • modelling • open university • university

Published: 1999 • Delivery Format: Online (Internet)

Summary

Provided by The Open University under their OpenLearn website as a free study units with a discussion forum. Study independently at your own pace or join a group and use the free learning tools to work with others.

Time: 4 hours

Level: Introductory

From the Open University:

Maps and plans, architects and engineers, drawings, graphs and tables: all are models we use in everyday life. This unit will introduce you to the modelling process enabling you to recognise that systems models may be used in different ways as part of a process for: improving understanding of a situation; identifying problems or formulating opportunities and supporting decision making.

Learning Outcomes

After working through these materials you should be able to:

describe and use a general classification of models;

outline and discuss the process of systems modelling, where models are used as part of a systemic approach to a range of different situations;

recognise that systems models may be used in different ways as part of a process for: improving understanding of a situation; identifying problems or formulating opportunities; supporting decision making.

Content / Structure

Introduction

Current section: Learning outcomes

1 Preamble

2 An introduction to models

2.1 Defining ‘model’

2.2 Mental models: implicit and explicit

2.3 Some general categories of model

2.4 Models as part of systems work

2.5 A model of systems modelling

3 Systems modelling in practice

3.1 The steps to systems modelling

3.2 Why quantitative models

3.3 Types of quantitative systems model

References

Acknowledgements

The T553 course team

Original Copyright © 1999 - 2002 The Open University. Now made available within the Creative Commons framework under the CC Attribution – Non-commercial licence (see http://creativecommons.org/by-nc-sa/2.0/uk/).