Modeling with Archetypes: An Effective Approach to Dealing with Complexity

In the face of growing complexities, agents who lead or manage organizations must revert to better models. This proposition is based on the Conant/Ashby Theorem, which says that the results of a management process are determined by the quality of the model on which that process is based. The author proposes that archetype-based modeling is a promising way to enhance the behavioral repertory of agents in organizations and society: It aids in achieving better models and thus in coping with complexity more effectively. Experiences with System Dynamics modeling of real-world issues and problems as well as the pertinent results achieved are reported. The special flavor of the cases described lies in a new quality and speed of learning-by-modeling, which was unachievable a few years ago. This is now enabled by a) an advanced methodology of modeling and model validation, b) the conceptual maturity of systems archetypes, and c) the availability of powerful simulation software.