Rating: 
Summary: The most useful SD book !
Review: This book is a fundamental step in our understanding of the complex business evironments in which the majority of the companies operate.It is also a great source of wisdom -about System Dynamics and how we can improve our interventions in a world that needs a lot of improvements. It is also insigthful about the way we learn -or not. If you are going to get one SD book, this is the one !
Rating: 
Summary: Good book, but could be better ...........
Review: This book is a must for anyone with interest in business modeling and simulation. It is the culmination of Forrester's seminal book on System Dynamics + the 40 odd years maturation that has occured in this discipline since 1961. Though this book with 900 odd pages is large, it could have been useful if it had at least one serious case study which flowed through all the chapters and linked all the concepts. This would have helped potential practioners. In its current form the book contains many examples to explain the concepts, but none detailed enough. Many a times the author mentions that the actual models were complex, and a simplified version is being shown in the book. This however does not help the reader to understand and appreciate the complexities involved. It is probably because the concerned organizations were not willing to reveal "too much" lest they loose their IP.
Rating:
Summary: The very best SD book on my book-shelf!
Review: This book is the ultimate resource for any serious learner of System Dynamics. Sterman covers all aspects of SD modeling in a witty and easy-to-understand- manner. He deals extensively with the foundations of SD modeling, treats extensively causal loop diagramming, the logic of stocks and flows, gives numerous examples of practical SD projects, makes an in-depth investigation into all kind of building blocks of SD models etc. All the models of the book are avaliable on the added CD in the Vensim, Stella and Powersim data formats. Although published just in spring 2000, it is IMHO already a classic. A last word: Business Dynamics is not cheap, but it is worth every cent or penny you spend for it. There may be other good or even excellent SD-textbooks, but "Business Dynamics" is simply outstanding and a category in its own.
Rating:
Summary: The very best SD book on my book-shelf!
Review: This book is the ultimate resource for any serious learner of System Dynamics. Sterman covers all aspects of SD modeling in a witty and easy-to-understand- manner. He deals extensively with the foundations of SD modeling, treats extensively causal loop diagramming, the logic of stocks and flows, gives numerous examples of practical SD projects, makes an in-depth investigation into all kind of building blocks of SD models etc. All the models of the book are avaliable on the added CD in the Vensim, Stella and Powersim data formats. Although published just in spring 2000, it is IMHO already a classic. A last word: Business Dynamics is not cheap, but it is worth every cent or penny you spend for it. There may be other good or even excellent SD-textbooks, but "Business Dynamics" is simply outstanding and a category in its own.
Rating:
Summary: An Eye Opener
Review: This book was an eye opener for applying systems theory outside of the usual electrical/mechanical engineering presentation. Should be required reading for anyone considering business consulting. One of my personal challenges had been how to use the tools from systems theory appropriately in a business framework and this text provides ample guidance.
It succeeds in maintaining a technical approach while at the same time there is actually very little math for a systems book.
I am only rating 4 stars instead of 5, because I would like to see the relationships between the models in the book and those of traditional control systems engineering related at a more mathematical level (even if only in an extended appendix). It is obvious the author has made the connections but he keeps much of the math hidden.
Rating:
Summary: A great book
Review: This is the best book available on this subject. Very readable, very interesting, very useful, very practical. If you do system dynamics modeling..... you need it.
Rating:
Summary: System dynamics textbook
Review: When I was reading and actually translating prof. Sterman's paper "A Skeptic's Guide to Computer Models" to the Czech language I said to my colleagues that his way of writing and teaching is exactly what me and others need. I was waiting for such a book!
Rating:
Summary: Best book on SD around
Review: You won't find a better more informative book. This should be required reading for any consultant interested in solving real world complex business problems. It goes into detail with examples and stories about actual projects that any good management consultant should be capable of tackling. An outstanding book.
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