Question

A key reason that the systems paradigm works well is …

Select one:

a. Although we often prescribe boundaries to describe systems, there really are no boundaries; so we can add structure as needed to provide missing elements for the systems model

b. Systems are usually non-linear, which describes most behavior better than linear models

c. Systems models acknowledge there may be delays, which can affect the overall system behavior

d. Systems describe patterns of behavior rather than individual events

e. All of these are reasons the systems paradigm works

Bounded rationality refers to which idea below?

Select one:

a. People operating with perfect information will make perfect decisions for the good of the whole

b. Adam Smith’s concept of the “invisible hand” that says individuals acting in their own interest will move society effectively for society’s own economic benefit

c. Herman Daly’s concept of the “invisible foot” that says individuals acting rationally in the short-term will produce overall results that nobody wants

d. By satisficing we do enough to make the system sustainable

e. None of these

The principle of systems thinking illustrated best by the “Tragedy of the Commons" is self-organization.

Select one:

True

False

Escalation is a function of reinforcing loops. People at a party talking louder to overcome the rising volume of the crowd is an example of escalation.

Select one:

True

False

Increasing the capacity of intermediary stocks (buffers) to stabilize the system is one way to modify a system to produce more of a desired outcome.

Select one:

True

False

The murmuration video in the Weeks 4-5 lecture illustrates that the behavior of large systems emerges from the behavior of its subsystems.

Select one:

True

False

Banks often charge their customer's hidden or semi-hidden fees, such as late charges or over-draft fees. This is an example of which kind of systems trap?

Select one:

a. Competitive exclusion

b. Addiction

c. Rule beating

d. None of the above

e. All of the above, but primarily competitive exclusion

If you consider the emerging coronavirus epidemic in China, and the potential for global pandemic, which of these clichés best captures the systems nature of the problem?

Select one:

a. "A stitch in time saves nine."

b. "The rich get rich, and the poor get poorer."

c. "Don't put all your eggs in one basket."

d. "A spoonful of sugar makes the medicine go down."

e. None of the above

Answer 1

1. A key reason that the systems paradigm works well is …

a. Although we often prescribe boundaries to describe systems, there really are no boundaries; so we can add structure as needed to provide missing elements for the systems model

b. Systems are usually non-linear, which describes most behavior better than linear models

c. Systems models acknowledge there may be delays, which can affect the overall system behavior

d. Systems describe patterns of behavior rather than individual events

e. All of these are reasons the systems paradigm works

2. Bounded rationality refers to which idea below?

a. People operating with perfect information will make perfect decisions for the good of the whole

3. The principle of systems thinking illustrated best by the “Tragedy of the Commons" is self-organization.

True

4.Escalation is a function of reinforcing loops. People at a party talking louder to overcome the rising volume of the crowd is an example of escalation.

True

5. Increasing the capacity of intermediary stocks (buffers) to stabilize the system is one way to modify a system to produce more of a desired outcome.

True

6.The murmuration video in the Weeks 4-5 lecture illustrates that the behavior of large systems emerges from the behavior of its subsystems.

True

7.Banks often charge their customer's hidden or semi-hidden fees, such as late charges or over-draft fees. This is an example of which kind of systems trap?

d. None of the above

8.If you consider the emerging coronavirus epidemic in China, and the potential for global pandemic, which of these clichés best captures the systems nature of the problem?

a. "A stitch in time saves nine."