EURO 2024 Copenhagen
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3481. Exploring the innovative nature of Forrester’s ‘Industrial Dynamics’

Invited abstract in session WC-20: Moments in the history of OR 2, stream Moments in the history of OR.

Wednesday, 12:30-14:00
Room: 45 (building: 116)

Authors (first author is the speaker)

1. David Lane
Prof of Business Informatics, Henley Business School

Abstract

This talk reflects on the 1961 publication of Jay Forrester’s 'Industrial Dynamics', the founding text of the field of System Dynamics. It considers the circumstances that catalysed Forrester and explores the influences and published antecedents of the book. It presents a range of contemporary reactions, drawn from perspectives inside and beyond OR. It explores the ways in which the ideas in 'Industrial Dynamics' - ID - relate to other fields. From the perspectives of Systems Science, OR and Problem Structuring Methods/Soft OR, it explores: commonalities in intellectual provenance; similarities in central ideas; influences that the book had on the field. Via a biographical sketch, the talk argues that the provenance of the ideas in ID can be seen to be grounded in, and exemplified by, the life of Forrester himself. It closes by drawing three conclusions. (1) The book continues to offer methodological challenges to OR, to contribute to debates on the nature and identity of OR. (2) It vivified an important thread of feedback thinking, providing a vehicle by which abstract ideas can be put to practical use. (3) ID anticipated developments in PSMs/Soft OR - meaning that the book’s ideas add weight to the case made by those in this area. In other words, whilst ID continues to be source and origin for the core ideas of the System Dynamics field, it offers bold and innovative ideas for all those interested in using practical techniques to solve messy, real-work problems.

Keywords

Status: accepted

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