| 1 | Introduction and Overview: Purpose, Tools and Concepts of System Dynamics | Business Dynamics [BD], Ch. 1 |
| 2 | System Dynamics Tools Part 1: Problem Definition and Model Purpose | BD, Ch. 3, Ch. 4 |
| 3 | System Dynamics Tools Part 2: Building Theory with Causal Loop Diagrams | BD, Ch. 5 (Skim Sections 5.4, 5.6) |
| 4 | System Dynamics Tools Part 3: Mapping the Stock and Flow Structure of Systems | BD, Ch. 6 (Skim Sections 6.2.7, 6.2.8, 6.2.9, 6.3.4, 6.3.6) |
| 5 | System Dynamics Tools Part 4: Dynamics of Stocks and Flows | BD, Ch. 7 |
| 6 | System Dynamics Tools Part 5: Linking Feedback with Stock and Flow Structure | BD, Sections 8.1-8.4 |
| 7 | System Dynamics Tools Part 6: Linking Feedback with Stock and Flow Structure (continued) | BD, Ch. 8.5 to end |
| 8 | Growth Strategies Part 1: Modeling Innovation Diffusion and the Growth of New Products | BD, Ch. 9.1 (Skim 9.1.2, 9.1.3); 9.2, 9.3 (Skim Sections 9.3.5 to end) |
| 9 | Growth Strategies Part 2: Network Externalities, Complementarities, and Path Dependence | BD, Ch. 10 (Skim Section 10.2) |
| 10 | Growth Strategies Part 3: Modeling the Evolution of New Medical Technologies | Please Prepare: Homer, Jack, edited by J. Sterman. The Evolution of a Radical New Technology: The Implantable Cardiac Pacemaker. MIT Sloan School of Management, 1996/1984. |
| 11 | Interactions of Operations, Strategy, and Human Resource Policy: People Express | Please Prepare: Schlesinger, Leonard A., and Debra Whitestone. People Express (A). Boston, MA: Harvard Business Publishing, 2000. Case No. 9-483-103. |
| 12 | Guest Lecture: Business Dynamics at General Motors (Nick Pudar, Mark Paich) | Please Prepare: Christensen, Clayton M., and Erik A. Roth. OnStar: Not Your Father's General Motors. Boston, MA: Harvard Business Publishing, 2002. Case No. 9-602-081. |
| 13 | Managing Hyper Growth: Lessons from People Express.
End of 15.871 | |
| 14 | System Dynamics in Action: Re-engineering the Supply Chain in a High-Velocity Industry | BD, Ch. 11 (Skim Sections 11.6, 11.7) |
| 15 | Managing Instability Part 1: Formulating and Testing Robust Models of Business Processes | BD, Sections 13.1, 13.2.1-13.2.7, 13.3 and 13.4 |
| 16 | Managing Instability Part 2: The Supply Line and Supply Chains | BD, Sections 14.1, 17.1, 17.2 and 17.3 |
| 17 | Managing Instability Part 3: Forecasting and Feedback: Bounded Rationality or Rational Expectations? | BD, Ch. 16 |
| 18 | Managing Instability Part 4: Business Cycles: Real Estate and Oil Tankers | BD, Sections 17.4 and 17.5 |
| 19 | Guest Lecture: Jay W. Forrester | Forrester, Jay W. From the Ranch to System Dynamics: An Autobiography. In Management Laureates: A Collection of Autobiographical Essays. Edited by Arthur G. Bedeian. Vol. 1 of 3. Greenwich, CT: JAI Press, 1992. |
| 20 | System Dynamics in Action: The Dynamics of Project Management-On Time and Under Budget | BD, Sections 2.3 and 6.3.4 |
| 21 | System Dynamics in Action: Applications of System Dynamics to Environmental and Public Policy Issues | Meadows, D. H., D. L. Meadows, J. Randers, and W.W. Behrens, III. Groping in the Dark: The First Decade of Global Modeling. New York, N.Y.: Wiley, 1974. (Excerpts)
Meadows, Donella H., and Donella Meadows. The Global Citizen. Island Press, 1991. (Selections) |
| 22 | System Dynamics in Action: Process Improvement in the Semiconductor Industry | Please Prepare: Kaplan, Robert S. Analog Devices, Inc.: The Half-Life System. Boston, MA: Harvard Business Publishing, 1993. Case No. 9-190-061.
Stata, Ray. Organizational Learning: The Key to Management Innovation. Boston, MA: Sloan Management Review, Spring 1989. |
| 23 | Guest Lecture: System Dynamics in Action - Jim Lyneis | |
| 24 | System Dynamics in Action: The Implementation Challenge Conclusion: How to Keep Learning, Follow-up Resources, Career Opportunities, Course Evaluations | BD, Ch. 22 |
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