Posts Tagged with "feedback-loop"

Reference #326: Thinking in Systems

A feedback loop is a mechanism by which the behaviour of a system persists over time. When changes in a stock affect the flows into or out of that stock, a feedback loop is formed.Read more →

Reference #327: Thinking in Systems

A balancing feedback loop is one that stabilises the stock level at a given value of range of values. It is goal-seeking, stability seeking.Read more →

Reference #328: Thinking in Systems

A reinforcing feedback loop is characterised by amplifying and self-multiplying behaviour, creating a vicious or virtuous cycle. It generates more input to a stock the more of that stock there is (and less input the less there is).Read more →

Reference #329: Thinking in Systems

A reinforcing loop occur wherever an element of a system has the ability to grow as a constant fraction of itself. Such behaviour is commonly seen in populations and economies. This leads to reinforcing loops which exhibit exponential growth.Read more →

Reference #330: Thinking in Systems

The time taken for an exponentially growing stock to double in size (the "doubling time") is approximately 70 divided by the growth rate as a percentage. For example, if you put $100 into your bank returning 7% interest per year, you will double your money in 10 years.Read more →

Reference #331: Thinking in Systems

In real systems, unlike simple models, there is a rarely a single feedback loop. Rather there are frequently multiple feedback loops linked together that create complex system behaviour.Read more →

Reference #332: Thinking in Systems

A system will always have delays in responding to information. Information in a feedback loop — for example, the level of a stock — takes a non-zero natural time to feed back into the system. This means it cannot affect current behaviour, only future behaviour.Read more →

Reference #333: Thinking in Systems

Complex systems often have several competing feedback loops operating simultaneously. The relative strength of these feedback loops can shift over time; this leads to shifting dominance of different loops and is a cause of complex behaviour.Read more →

Reference #334: Thinking in Systems

The existence of delays in a balancing loop makes a system likely to oscillate. Consider how a car dealership responds to a 10% increase in sales from increased customer demand.Read more →