System dynamics modeling: Tools for learning in a complex world

Today's problems often arise as unintended consequences of yesterday's solu tions. Business and public policy settings suffer from policy resistance, t he tendency for well-intentioned interventions to be defeated by the respon se of the system to the intervention itself. Just as an airline uses flight simulators to help pilots learn, system dynamics enables us to create mana gement flight simulators to avoid policy resistance and design more effecti ve policies. System dynamics is also a process for working with high-level teams designed to improve the chances for implemented results. This article discusses how system dynamics can be used effectively to design high-lever age policies for sustainable improvement and introduces the next three arti cles in this issue discussing the application of system dynamics to a varie ty of critical issues facing business leaders today.