Supply Chain Beyond the Basics: Building System Dynamics Models

This course provides a comprehensive introduction to system dynamics and its application in business strategy and supply chain management. Instructor Daniel Stanton illustrates key concepts such as systems thinking, stocks and flows, feedback loops, and system archetypes. Through hands-on exercises and simulations using InsightMaker, learn how to model supply chains and analyze the impact of disruptions and policy changes. The course also covers scenario planning, business planning, and strategies for enhancing supply chain resilience, with a focus on real-world examples such as the COVID-19 pandemic and geopolitical disruptions. Check out this course to gain the tools and techniques that will help you manage and optimize complex supply chains.

Learning objectives
Understand the principles of systems thinking and system dynamics and apply them to supply chain management.
Identify and model stocks, flows, and delays within supply chains.
Develop and interpret causal loop diagrams to analyze feedback loops in complex systems.
Use system dynamics modeling software, such as InsightMaker, to simulate supply chain scenarios.
Apply system dynamics to enhance supply chain resilience and adaptability.
Perform scenario planning and business planning using system dynamics tools.
Analyze common system archetypes and their implications for supply chain decision-making.
Evaluate the role of chaos theory and black swan events in supply chain disruptions.
Build effective models that support business decision-making and scenario planning.
Integrate system dynamics with strategies to improve disaster response, security, and overall supply chain resilience.