[jacques_chester]

I strongly disagree. Senge's book is hand-wavy, includes acres of unactionable fluff and -- this irks me the most -- introduces causal loop diagrams but fails to introduce stock-and-flow diagrams.

Causal loop diagrams are basically toys, useful only during initial hypothesis formation. You need a stock-and-flow model to actually test and elaborate your hypothesis.

The best all-round introductory book I have read in this area is still Sterman's Business Dynamics. 1st edition hardbacks are out of print, but there are second-hand copies and also cheap international editions around. A 2nd edition is expected next year.

[mindcrime]

Your response reads as though you're disagree with an assertion I didn't make. I almost feel like you read my post as saying that The Fifth Discipline is the -best- book on the topic. That I'm not saying, if for no other reason than because I haven't read every book on the topic.

However, I stand by the assertion that it is a worthy read. I gained a lot from reading it, and if it falls short of being totally comprehensive and standing entirely on its own... well, that's a criticism that would apply to many books.

All of that said, thanks for mentioning the Sterman book. I wasn't familiar with it, and I'm about to order a copy.