M1.2 - Systems Thinking

The main objective of this subject is to introduce a causal approach to develop efficient transparent models enhancing simulation tools with the capability to explore uncertainties, trend breaks, and discontinuities; and extend their potential to foster deliberation; and their relevance to decision makers. For this purpose, students will be trained with the use of Coloured Petri Net formalism to represent the cause-effect relationships that underlies in most SC systems, and the analysis of the state space for a better understanding of the so called emergent dynamics.

The set of sub-objectives of this subject are:

• Introduce a holistic analysis approach, as opposed to reductionist, as a set of diverse interacting agents within an environment.
• Recognize that the relationships or interactions between elements are more important than the elements themselves in determining the behaviour of the system.
• Recognize a hierarchy of levels of systems and the consequent ideas of properties emerging at strategic, tactic and operational levels, and mutual causality both within and between levels.
• Recognize a hierarchy of levels of systems and the consequent ideas of properties emerging at strategic, tactic and operational levels, and mutual causality both within and between levels.
• Introduce influence variables for a better understanding of human behaviour in a supply chain system.