LIBRARY
GLO 410: Systems Thinking: Chapter 1: Causal Loop Diagrams
This guide for Systems Thinking provides students with links to references from the textbook Systems Concepts in Action in addition to other resources to help develop systemic thinkers.
Causal Loop Diagrams
"CLDs visualize variables and their relationships over time. They permit us not only to analyze current states and relationalpatterns but also to make assumptions about the dynamic behavior. They allow us to look beyond individual events and to reach a higher— one might say more systemic—level of understanding, by mapping the structure that is responsible for producing recurring patterns of events over time."- Systems Concepts in Action, Chapter 1
eBooks/ Articles
- Rethinking the Fifth Discipline: Learning Within the UnknowableFlood, Robert. 1999. "Establishes crucial developments in systemic thinking in the context of the learning organisation, including creativity and organisational transformation."
- Systems archetypes I
Kim, Daniel H. 2000. Print. - Systems thinking tools
Kim, Daniel H. 2000. Print. - Introduction to system dynamics modeling
Richardson, George P. Pugh, Alexander L. 2000. Print. - The fifth discipline : the art and practice of the learning organization
Senge, Peter M. 2006. Call number: HD58.9 .S46 2006 - The Art of Interconnected Thinking: Ideas and Tools for Dealing with Complexity
Nguyen, Nam C. Bosch, Ockie J. H. 2014. Trains students to use "interconnected thinking to deal with complex problems in a systemic, integrated and collaborative fashion." - Guidelines for Drawing Causal Loop Diagrams
Daniel H. Kim. Feb 1992. A short, step by step guide for building causal loop diagrams. - Sensitivity Model
The Sensitivity Model is a software-based tool used for solving the complex problems of today.
Intro to CLD
Web Resources
- Insight Maker
A handy web-based tool for constructing causal loop diagrams. - Leverage Networks
Offers articles, books, and pocket guides to Systems Thinking. - Learn to Read Causal Loop Diagrams
Jenny Zhou. 2012. This article offers a short guide on how to read causal loop diagrams. - iSixSigma
Offers a step-by-step guide to creating causal loop diagrams. Begins with your first arrow and ends with a complete model.
Examples/ Case Studies
- A Project Management Causal Loop Diagram
Toole, T. Michael. 2005. Examines and encourages the implementation of system dynamics into project management. Includes a project management causal loop diagram. - Quantification of methane emission from municipal solid waste disposal in Delhi
Vikash, Talyan et al. 2007. In this article, system dynamics modeling approach has been used to quantify the methane emission from municipal solid waste (MSW) disposal in Delhi. The authors utilize a causal loop diagram to represent MSW.