Systems and Models. Complexity, Dynamics, Evolution, Sustainability Review

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Systems and Models. Complexity, Dynamics, Evolution, Sustainability ReviewWhile Bossel's book deals with systems and modelling in general it is primarily focussed on system dynamics that is deterministic, aggregated and continuous modeling using stocks and flows connected by information feedback. Now, there are many good books available on system dynamics modeling (albeit not TOO many) - the most eminent one being the seminal work by John Sterman (Business Dynamics for a Complex World)- why bother buying or at least reading this one?
I believe this books fits very neatly into the system dynamics library and should not be missing in any serious collection for the following reasons:
1. While Sterman and others give very broad (and lengthy...) introductions in modeling Bossels gives a very concise overview about the different approaches in modeling which I found very helpful to better see where system dynamics fits into the spectrum.
2. Although I am aware of the 'social systems' view of system dynamics in many texts Bossels does not quite deny his engineering background in giving a very concise but also technical introduction with many links to physical and other technological/ecological systems. That might scare some MBAs (no offense meant) and other 'social scientists' but it makes for clarity and precision that is sometimes lost - for example in Sterman's lengthy elaborations and in his footnotes.
3. Where others only provide footnotes and literature recommendations Bossels provides one of the most useful and readable presentation of the mathematics (linear systems theory) and also touches relevant aspects of control theory. This serves as a welcome repetition for (lost or vague) knowledge but might also serve as introduction on its own. It greatly enhances the understanding of what is vaguely meant be 'structure gives rise to behavior' in other SD-texts. Let's face it, you may of course leave out the maths in order to not deter the modeler and the practitioners, but in the end it is maths that brings in clarity and understanding. Bossel's text in this aspect is certainly unique.
4. Very precisely Bossel notes that once you have created a 'useful and trustworthy' model of a system with input -> system -> output (I-S-O) there are three elementary questions to discuss: What Input is needed to achieve a given output given the system at hand (I?) - What Output will be generated by given Input given the system at hand (O?) - And given input and output how should the system-structure be modified (S?) In discussing these questions Bossel also provides his orientor - theory which is an abstract concept for guiding any kind of 'viable system'. This is a great addition and makes the book a very 'systemic' reading well up to all the other 'soft' systems thinking texts out there.
5. Next to this book there are three accompanying books by Bossel (Systems Zoo 1 - 3) which greatly add to the value of the book. They provide for hands on examples and offer a great variety of well documented models from physics (including diffusion models and thermodynamics) to economics. This greatly increases the use of this book and also makes for a great modeling library.
All in all, for the reasons given, this is indeed a unique text that should not be missing in any (system dynamics) modeler's collection. It makes for a great addition to John Sterman's 'SD-Bible'.Systems and Models. Complexity, Dynamics, Evolution, Sustainability Overview

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