Systems modelling

Maps and plans, architects and engineers, drawings, graphs and tables: all are models we use in everyday life. This free course, Systems modelling, will introduce you to the modelling process, enabling you to recognise that systems models may be used in different ways as part of a process for: improving understanding of a situation; identifying problems or formulating opportunities and supporting decision making.

• 1 Preamble
• 2 An introduction to models
• 2.1 Defining ‘model’
• 2.2 Mental models: implicit and explicit
• 2.3 Some general categories of model
• 2.4 Models as part of systems work
• 2.5 A model of systems modelling
• 3 Systems modelling in practice
• 3.1 The steps to systems modelling
• 3.2 Why quantitative models
• 3.3 Types of quantitative systems model