Systems thinking/system dynamics: Let's just get on with it

Abstract The world has many problems. Many of these problems are approaching crisis proportions. The system dynamics community has something very powerful to contribute to addressing these problems—whether we call that something systems thinking or system dynamics. We have not been very effective in sharing what we have to offer because we have failed to truly appreciate the essence of system dynamics. As a result, we have both consciously and unwittingly diluted this essence, and in the process made more difficult the task of disseminating what we have to offer. We need to better understand and appreciate the essence of our field and then focus our energies on the real task at hand: figuring out why this essence seems to be so difficult for people to grasp, and then fixing that.