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Systems Archetype
From SystemsWiki
A Systems Archetype is a structure which exhibits a characteristic behavior over time and has a very recurring nature.
The Balancing Loop and Reinforcing Loop presented in the Causal Loop Diagram article are identified as Systems Archetypes because of their characteristic patterns of behavior and recurring nature. There are combinations of these two structures which are also Systems Archetypes because of their characteristic patterns of behavior and recurring nature. Though why study Systems Archetypes?
Systems Archetypes are valuable because we can study their structure and implications apart from specific situations and develop generic learning which is relevant to many specific situations. Ludwig von Bertalanffy [Davidson 1983] proposed that the same basic structures operated across all discipline, and if one learned how these structures operated one could transfer much of their learning from one discipline to another. When moving from one discipline to another one would simply have to learn the structures that were operating and the labels on the elements of the structure. When I first read this I considered it most profound. Then, after pondering it for quite some time it became apparent that of course this is true, for the disciplines are a contrivance of man, not nature. As such, with one universe, of course there is only one set of structures that operate.
There are four characteristics which collectively identify a Systems Archetype:
- It has a well defined structure
- It produces a characteristic pattern of behavior over time
- Which is a result of feedback, reinforcing, balancing, or both
- It appears frequently across multiple disciplines
- There are well defined approaches for dealing with the structure
The benefit of being aware that a System Archetype is operating is that you pretty much know how things are likely to play out. You also know the most appropriate approaches for dealing with the structure that's operating.
[edit] References
- Braun, Bill (web) The System Archetypes
- Kim, Daniel and Anderson, Virginia (1998) System Archetype Basics: From Story to Structure. Pegasus Communications
- Powell, Robert E. (web) Systems Thinking Archetypes (Generic Structures)
- Wikipedia (web) Anti-pattern
- Wolsetnholme, Eirc (2004) Using Generic System Archetypes to Support Thinking and Modeling
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