Prof. Jay W. Forrester pioneered industrial Dynamics. It enabled the management scientists to understand well enough the dynamics of change in economics/business systems. Four basic foundations on which System Dynamics rest were discussed. The thought process prevailing and their shortcomings are pointed out and the success story of System Dynamics was explained with the help of Production-Distribution model. System Dynamics graduated to Learning Organisations. Senge with his concept of integrating five distinct disciplines of Systems Thinking, Personal Mastery, Mental Models, Shared Vision and Team Learning succeeded in bringing forth the System Dynamics to the reach of large number of practitioners and teachers of management. However, Systems Thinking part of the Learning Organisation fails to reach out because it lacks the architecture needed to support it. Richmond provided the much-needed architectural support. It enables the mapping language to be economical, consistent and relate to the dynamic behaviour of the system. Progression from Industrial Dynamics to Systems Thinking has been slow due to different postures taken by the professionals. It is suggested that Systems Thinking has a lot to adopt from different disciplines and should celebrate synergies and avail cross-fertilisation or opportunities. Systems Thinking is transparent and can seamlessly leverage the way the business is performed.
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