Everything is connected. Pull one lever, and watch the ripples change the world. Master systems thinking.
Dynamics
System behavior
Feedback Loops
Reinforcing/balancing
Connections
See relationships
Leverage
High-impact points
You are the architect of complex systems. Your goal is stability and sustainability.
System Simulator is a systems thinking game that develops your ability to understand complex, interconnected systems. From businesses to ecosystems, understanding system dynamics is increasingly essential.
The game lets you experiment with simulated systems, observing how changes propagate. You develop the holistic perspective that distinguishes effective leaders and problem-solvers.
The game covers systems concepts:
System Types: • Business Systems: Markets, supply chains, organizations • Ecological Systems: Ecosystems, population dynamics • Social Systems: Communities, institutions, networks • Technical Systems: Engineering, software architectures • Economic Systems: Markets, currencies, trade
Key Concepts: Feedback loops, delays, leverage points, emergence.
Learn the components and their relationships.
Adjust inputs or parameters in the system.
See how changes ripple through the system.
Understand feedback loops and emergent behavior.
System Simulator develops holistic thinking:
Interconnection Awareness: Seeing how parts relate in systems.
Feedback Understanding: Recognizing reinforcing and balancing loops.
Temporal Reasoning: Understanding how effects unfold over time.
Unintended Consequences: Anticipating unexpected effects.
Leverage Points: Finding where small changes create big impacts.
Systems thinking aids analytical assessments:
MBA Programs: Strategy and operations courses use systems frameworks.
Consulting Cases: Complex case studies require systems perspective.
Engineering: Design thinking incorporates systems concepts.
Leadership Roles: Managing organizations needs systems understanding.
System Simulator benefits complex-problem solvers:
• MBA Students: Build strategy and operations thinking • Business Analysts: Understand organizational dynamics • Engineers: Improve design thinking • Managers: Better understand organizational behavior • Policy Students: Analyze complex social issues
This game applies systems dynamics research:
Mental Models: Building accurate representations of systems.
Simulation Learning: Experimentation accelerates understanding.
Transfer: Systems thinking generalizes across domains.
Complexity Science: Insights from complexity and chaos theory.
Look for feedback loops - they explain most system behavior
Consider delays - effects often appear after significant time
Identify leverage points - where small changes create big effects
Challenge linear thinking - most systems are non-linear
Watch for unintended consequences - interventions often backfire
