Reports from the Field

2012 ◽  
pp. 195-213
Author(s):  
Allyson M. Beall ◽  
Andrew Ford
Keyword(s):  
System Dynamics ◽  
Model Building ◽  
Simulation Models ◽  
Environmental Modeling ◽  
Common Language ◽  
The Public ◽  
Ecosystem Science ◽  
Social Concerns ◽  
Types Of Information

Since the work of Tansley (1935) and others, many have embraced the concept that an ecosystem is a synergy of its parts. Numerous science-centric approaches have been developed to address ecosystem management, while also taking into account the needs of the public. Participatory environmental modeling using system dynamics is an effective process for facilitating the integration of ecosystem science and social concerns. This integration helps break barriers between disciplines while also identifying important feedbacks between traditionally segregated types of data. Using the art of facilitation and the science of model building, the methodology creates a common language that integrates various types of information into simulation models. This paper describes a diversity of case studies, that have used system dynamics to create platforms through which stakeholders can simultaneously explore their system, stressors to that system, potential tipping points, resilience, and prospective policies that address the environment, social concerns, and long-term sustainability.

Reports from the Field

2010 ◽  
Vol 1 (2) ◽  
pp. 72-89 ◽  
Author(s):  
Allyson M. Beall ◽  
Andrew Ford
Keyword(s):  
System Dynamics ◽  
Model Building ◽  
Simulation Models ◽  
Environmental Modeling ◽  
Tipping Points ◽  
The Public ◽  
Ecosystem Science ◽  
Social Concerns ◽  
Types Of Information

Since the work of Tansley (1935) and others, many have embraced the concept that an ecosystem is a synergy of its parts. Numerous science-centric approaches have been developed to address ecosystem management, while also taking into account the needs of the public. Participatory environmental modeling using system dynamics is an effective process for facilitating the integration of ecosystem science and social concerns. This integration helps break barriers between disciplines while also identifying important feedbacks between traditionally segregated types of data. Using the art of facilitation and the science of model building, the methodology creates a common language that integrates various types of information into simulation models. This paper describes a diversity of case studies, that have used system dynamics to create platforms through which stakeholders can simultaneously explore their system, stressors to that system, potential tipping points, resilience, and prospective policies that address the environment, social concerns, and long-term sustainability.

Dealing with Multiple Models in System Dynamics

2014 ◽  
Vol 3 (4) ◽  
pp. 17-35 ◽  
Author(s):  
Willem L. Auping ◽  
Erik Pruyt ◽  
Jan H. Kwakkel
Keyword(s):  
System Dynamics ◽  
Simulation Models ◽  
Dynamics Simulation ◽  
Multiple Models ◽  
Top Down ◽  
Bottom Up ◽  
New Approach ◽  
Behavioural Patterns ◽  
Copper Availability

This paper introduces an approach to compare simulation runs from multiple System Dynamics simulation models. Three dynamic hypotheses regarding the uncertain evolutions of long-term copper availability are introduced and used to illustrate the new approach. They correspond to three different perspectives on the copper system (global top-down, global bottom-up, and regional top-down). Although each of these models allows to generate a wealth of behavioural patterns, the focus in this paper is on the differences in trajectories caused by different models for identical values of shared parameters and identical settings of other assumptions, not on differences in behavioural patterns caused by each of the models. Hence, differences in trajectories between the three models are identified, quantified, and classified based on a quantified measure of difference. For these models, small differences between the trajectories are only found in stable runs, while the alternative perspectives are largely responsible for medium to large differences. Hence, it is concluded that multiple dynamic hypotheses may have to be modelled when dealing with uncertain issues.

An Urban Ecological Journey

2016 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nancy B. Grimm
Keyword(s):  
Principal Investigator ◽  
Full Professor ◽  
Forest Site ◽  
State University ◽  
Arizona State University ◽  
The Public ◽  
Urban Research ◽  
Ecosystem Science ◽  
Central Arizona

A long-term approach is definitive for my career, which has evolved at a single place over more than 30 years. But the Long-Term Research Ecology (LTER) program, and especially its urban research, has broadened my thinking far beyond the boundaries of the ecosystem science tradition in which I was trained. I have added to my expectations of students that they learn collaboration, use a diversity of approaches, explore existing data, and document and archive their own data. I anticipate that they will find careers in a broader diversity of areas than academia. The urban research in the LTER program has provided an incentive for me to work on communicating with the public, educators, students, and practitioners. I am still learning but am much more motivated than previously to reach out to these communities. Collaboration is standard practice for ecosystem science but the LTER program has expanded the types of scientists with whom I collaborate as well as the extent of my external collaborations. My decision to lead the Central Arizona–Phoenix (CAP) LTER project was therefore life-changing in extending the horizons of my science, mentoring, collaborations, and outreach. Since 1997, when the CAP program began, I have been involved in the LTER program. I was the original principal investigator, and Charles Redman and I were codirectors from 1997 to 2010. In 2010, after successfully renewing the CAP project, I took a 2-year hiatus to work at the National Science Foundation (NSF). I returned in 2012 and am currently the principal investigator and sole director. This has been my only involvement in the LTER program throughout my career, although as an undergraduate, I conducted research at what was to become the H. J. Andrews Experimental Forest site. I am trained as a stream ecologist and biogeochemist, and I have been at Arizona State University (ASU) for my entire graduate and postgraduate career. Currently I am a professor, having moved through ranks, first as a non–tenure track research faculty member, then as an “academic professional,” and finally as an associate and then full professor. I lead somewhat of a double life, scientifically.

scholarly journals Modeling with Stakeholders for Transformative Change

2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (3) ◽  
pp. 825 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anne van Bruggen ◽  
Igor Nikolic ◽  
Jan Kwakkel
Keyword(s):  
Model Building ◽  
Simulation Models ◽  
Environmental Modeling ◽  
Boundary Object ◽  
Extensive Literature ◽  
Group Model ◽  
Transformative Change ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Group Model Building

Coherent responses to important problems such as climate change require involving a multitude of stakeholders in a transformative process leading to development of policy pathways. The process of coming to an agreement on policy pathways requires critical reflection on underlying system conceptualizations and commitment to building capacity in all stakeholders engaged in a social learning process. Simulation models can support such processes by providing a boundary object or negotiating artifact that allows stakeholders to deliberate through a multi-interpretable, consistent, transparent, and verifiable representation of reality. The challenge is how to structure the transdisciplinary process of involving stakeholders in simulation modeling and how to know when such a process can be labeled as transformative. There is a proliferation of approaches for this across disciplines, of which this article identifies Group Model Building, Companion Modeling, Challenge-and-Reconstruct Learning, and generic environmental modeling as the most prominent. This article systematically reviews relevant theories, terminology, principles, and methodologies across these four approaches to build a framework that can facilitate further learning. The article also provides a typology of approaches to modeling with stakeholders. It distinguishes transformative approaches that involve stakeholders from representative, instrumental and nominal forms. It is based on an extensive literature review, supported by twenty-three semi-structured interviews with participatory and non-participatory modelers. The article brings order into the abundance of conceptions of transformation, the role of simulation models in transformative change processes, the role of participation of stakeholders, and what type of approaches to modeling with stakeholders are befitting in the development of policy pathways.

scholarly journals Winners and Losers: Assessing the Distributional Effects of Long-Term Care Funding Regimes

2007 ◽  
Vol 6 (3) ◽  
pp. 379-395 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ruth Hancock ◽  
Ariadna Juarez-Garcia ◽  
Adelina Comas-Herrera ◽  
Derek King ◽  
Juliette Malley ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Long Term Care ◽  
Simulation Models ◽  
Income Group ◽  
Personal Care ◽  
Term Care ◽  
Distributional Effects ◽  
Tax Rate ◽  
The Public ◽  
The Uk

Using two linked simulation models, we examine the public expenditure costs and distributional effects of potential reforms to long-term care funding in the UK. Changes to the means tests for user contributions to care costs are compared with options for the abolition of these means tests (‘free’ personal care). The latter generally cost more than the former and benefit higher income groups more than those on lower incomes (measuring income in relation to the age-specific income distribution). Reforms to the means tests target benefits towards those on lower incomes. However, the highest income group are net losers if free personal care is financed by a higher tax rate on higher incomes and the effect on the whole population considered.

scholarly journals Long Term Effectiveness of Elderly Health Care Voucher Scheme Strategies: A System Dynamics Simulation Analysis

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ka Chun Chong ◽  
Hong Fung ◽  
Carrie Yam ◽  
Patsy Chau ◽  
Tsz Yu Chow ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Primary Care ◽  
Chronic Disease ◽  
Public Sector ◽  
System Dynamics ◽  
The Elderly ◽  
Healthcare Services ◽  
Dynamics Simulation ◽  
Public And Private ◽  
The Public

Abstract Background: The elderly healthcare voucher (EHCV) scheme is expected to increase the number of elders choosing private primary healthcare services and, on the other hand, to reduce reliance on the public sector in Hong Kong. Unfortunately, the scheme was not satisfactorily as reported in the literature to date. In this study, we examined the changes in the ratio of visits between public and private doctors in primary care (as a metric of reliance on the public sector) for different strategic scenarios in the scheme.Methods: Based on the comments from the expertise discussion, a system dynamics model was formulated to simulate the impact of different enhanced strategy in the scheme: Increasing voucher amounts, lowering the age eligibility, and designating vouchers for chronic conditions follow-up. Data and statistics for model calibration were collected from different sources.Results: The simulation results showed that the current EHCV scheme was unable to reduce the utilization of public healthcare services as well as the ratio of visits between public and private when the local population aging was taken into account. When comparing the 3 different tested scenarios, even if the increase of annual voucher amount could be kept with a current pace or the age eligibility could be lowered to 60 years old, the impacts on the shifts from public to private utilization were not apparent in which the public-to-private ratio could only drop slightly from 0.74 to 0.64 in the first several years. Nevertheless, introducing a chronic disease-oriented voucher could result in an apparent drop of public-to-private ratio to 0.50 in the early implementation phase but the effect could not be maintained for a period of time. Conclusions: Our findings assist officials to further improve the design of EHCV scheme, within the bigger context of promoting primary care among the elderly. We suggested an additional chronic disease-oriented voucher could be an alternative strategy but the enhancement on the voucher amount should be considered if a long term planning was required. For not substantially rising the government expenditure for refining the scheme, health promotion works for encouraging co-payment from elderly for is recommended.

Caregivers' Perceptions of Speech-Language Pathologist Talk About Child Language and Literacy Disorders

2020 ◽  
Vol 29 (4) ◽  
pp. 2049-2067
Author(s):  
Karmen L. Porter ◽  
Janna B. Oetting ◽  
Loretta Pecchioni
Keyword(s):  
Language And Literacy ◽  
Collective Case Study ◽  
Study Approach ◽  
School Aged Children ◽  
Speech Language Pathologist ◽  
Therapy Goals ◽  
Semistructured Interviews ◽  
Types Of Information

Purpose This study examined caregiver perceptions of their child's language and literacy disorder as influenced by communications with their speech-language pathologist. Method The participants were 12 caregivers of 10 school-aged children with language and literacy disorders. Employing qualitative methods, a collective case study approach was utilized in which the caregiver(s) of each child represented one case. The data came from semistructured interviews, codes emerged directly from the caregivers' responses during the interviews, and multiple coding passes using ATLAS.ti software were made until themes were evident. These themes were then further validated by conducting clinical file reviews and follow-up interviews with the caregivers. Results Caregivers' comments focused on the types of information received or not received, as well as the clarity of the information. This included information regarding their child's diagnosis, the long-term consequences of their child's disorder, and the connection between language and reading. Although caregivers were adept at describing their child's difficulties and therapy goals/objectives, their comments indicated that they struggled to understand their child's disorder in a way that was meaningful to them and their child. Conclusions The findings showed the value caregivers place on receiving clear and timely diagnostic information, as well as the complexity associated with caregivers' understanding of language and literacy disorders. The findings are discussed in terms of changes that could be made in clinical practice to better support children with language and literacy disorders and their families.

Evaluating the Financial Performance Through ‘Consumer Centric Decision’ Approach in Pharmaceutical Companies of Bangladesh: a Business Planning Perspective

2017 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
pp. 168
Author(s):  
Md Mostafizur Rahman ◽  
Mahmud Uz Zaman
Keyword(s):  
Market Share ◽  
Swot Analysis ◽  
Financial Analysis ◽  
Pharmaceutical Companies ◽  
Short Term ◽  
The Public ◽  
Investment Choice ◽  
Good Investment ◽  
Business Analysis

Pharmaceuticals agglomerations consistently use their brand image and versatile product portfolios to consolidate their position in the financial sector, which is evident in their continuous profit making and expansion in market share. This paper explores the short-term and long-term investment attractiveness through ‘consumer centric decision’ approach in two selected pharmaceutical companies, Renata Limited and Orion Pharma Limited, of Bangladesh over the last three years’ period. This research adopts a systematic approach which primarily addresses the various concerns of investors to illustrate the decision-making process of the existing and future investors. Using primarily domestic transaction data, this study explores how the leading pharmaceuticals companies of Bangladesh effectively use the wide array of drug portfolios mix with appropriate branding techniques to increase their financial profit and market share simultaneously. Both SWOT analysis and Porters Five Forces Model explore the business analysis of Renata Limited in compare to Orion Pharma Limited that provides a conclusion regarding investors’ decision to invest in Renata Limited. Considering the financial analysis, Renata’s financial liquidity is not very satisfactory and could have been improved further if management is prudent on financial strategy settings. Findings of the business analysis indicate that Renata Limited would be a good investment choice for existing and prospective shareholders based on its opportunities for long term and short term growth and further expansion in developing the market. The results suggest that even lower liquidity coupled with higher interest borrowings can be balanced by posing positive picture to the public shareholders by returning the positive dividend to them.

Effect of sleep on memory for binding different types of visual information

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
John J Shaw ◽  
Zhisen Urgolites ◽  
Padraic Monaghan
Keyword(s):  
Visual Information ◽  
Storage Capacity ◽  
Declarative Memory ◽  
Recognition Task ◽  
Forced Choice ◽  
Long Term Memory ◽  
Term Memory ◽  
Different Types ◽  
Types Of Information

Visual long-term memory has a large and detailed storage capacity for individual scenes, objects, and actions. However, memory for combinations of actions and scenes is poorer, suggesting difficulty in binding this information together. Sleep can enhance declarative memory of information, but whether sleep can also boost memory for binding information and whether the effect is general across different types of information is not yet known. Experiments 1 to 3 tested effects of sleep on binding actions and scenes, and Experiments 4 and 5 tested binding of objects and scenes. Participants viewed composites and were tested 12-hours later after a delay consisting of sleep (9pm-9am) or wake (9am-9pm), on an alternative forced choice recognition task. For action-scene composites, memory was relatively poor with no significant effect of sleep. For object-scene composites sleep did improve memory. Sleep can promote binding in memory, depending on the type of information to be combined.

Approaches to Supporting Local and Community Development

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Liesel Mack Filgueiras ◽  
Andreia Rabetim ◽  
Isabel Aché Pillar
Keyword(s):  
Large Scale ◽  
Mining Company ◽  
The Sustainable Development ◽  
Social Partnership ◽  
The Public ◽  
Mining Investment ◽  
The Social ◽  
Corporate Social

Reflection about the role of community engagement and corporate social investment in Brazil, associated with the presence of a large economic enterprise, is the major stimulus of this chapter. It seeks to present how cross-sector governance can contribute to the social development of a city and how this process can be led by a partnership comprising a corporate foundation, government, and civil society. The concept of the public–private social partnership (PPSP) is explored: a strategy for building a series of inter-sectoral alliances aimed at promoting the sustainable development of territories where the company has large-scale enterprises, through joint efforts towards integrated long-term strategic planning, around a common agenda. To this end, the case of Canaã dos Carajás is introduced, a municipality in the State of Pará, in the Amazon region, where large-scale mining investment is being carried out by the mining company Vale SA.

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