Evaluating and Extending the Meta Model for Enterprise Systems Dynamics

Abstract Systems dynamics (SD) takes a whole-system perspective to model the nonlinear behaviour of complex systems, offering the potential to understand enterprise system behaviour, and the effect of interventions and enterprise re-designs when addressing multiple performance areas. Since SD concepts are ill-defined, a meta model for enterprise systems dynamics (MMESD) was developed, applying the initial version of the MMESD to an existing case, where the case was modelled with the modelling software, named Vensim. The initial MMESD required further evaluation , regarding its ease-of-understanding and its comprehensiveness. Using design science research (DSR), we evaluated the ease-of-understanding of the initial MMESD, involving practitioners. In terms of comprehensiveness , the initial MMESD was developed without considering meta model implementations within multiple SD modelling tools. This article thus also investigates the use of SD concepts in different SD modelling tools, highlighting the differences in the use of symbolic formalisms. The results regarding ease-of-understanding indicated limited understanding for: (1) identifying a feedback loop as reinforcing or balancing; and (2) using an attribute to extend the initial MMESD, highlighting limited understanding of the language used for expressing the MMESD concepts. Results related to the comprehensiveness of the MMESD, indicated that new concepts were identified for an extended MMESD, i.e. eMMESD, applied to an existing teacher education faculties case in Croatia as a demonstration. The eMMESD is more comprehensive in representing SD concepts than the initial MMESD, also providing additional guidance to the practitioner, using the eMMESD to guide SD modelling.