A new Book Series with Springer   

Editor: Prof. Carmine Bianchi

System Dynamics has proven an effective method to make explicit mental models as a way to identify discrepancies and to induce a fruitful dialogue between parties, such as the actors in the public sector, and between them and those in the private sphere. Such a dialogue is a prerequisite for building mutual understanding, confidence and trust between these parties and to establish a foundation for organizational learning, a key component in organizational development. Making the public sector more transparent and understandable is a prerequisite to enhance decision makers’ accountability, since it allows one to frame the impact of policies on performance.

The series aims to contribute bridging a gap between System Dynamics and (more broadly) modeling research studies, and their applications in real organizations, with a specific focus on the public sector and on performance management.

Main contributions will arise from the research and teaching work of the PhD program in “Model Based Public Planning, Policy Design and Management”, which is run as a double degree between the University of Bergen (Norway) and the University of Palermo (Italy). The collaboration between the two Universities on this program is further enhanced by the joint “European Master in System Dynamics” degree, which is delivered by Bergen and Palermo as an “Erasmus Mundus” EU-funded program with the Radboud University of Nijmegen (The Netherlands) and the University of Lisbon (Portugal).

The research associated to a PhD focused on System Dynamics modeling to support planning, policy design and management in Public Administrations can give an important contribution to both develop new researchers in such a field and to provide Public Institutions with insightful perspectives which are able to facilitate communication and learning processes in such contexts. Such skills and methods are also relevant for private enterprises. In fact, also in business organizations there are financial and organizational constraints, due to resource scarcity, due a lack of perception of delays, and to the reluctance of different departments to cooperate each other according to a systems view.

More info can be found on springer website

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