SOS 220 MIDTERM QUESTIONS & VERIFED ANSWERS
What is meant by "More is Different"? - Answers - The "more" things involved mean that
there is new "things" make what ever we are talking about different.
What is a system? - Answers - A system is an interconnected set of elements that is
coherently organized in a way that achieves something.
What is the importance of a stock? - Answers - A stock is the foundation of any system.
They are the elements of a system that you can see. Stocks change over time through
the actions of a flow.
Why are feedback loops important? - Answers - Feedback loops = basic operating unit
of a system. Consistent behavior pattern over a long period of time.
What are some types of feedback loops? Some examples? - Answers - · Mechanism
that allows a change in a stock to affect a flow into or out of the same stock
· Two types - Reinforcing (positive) feedback loops, like interest in a savings account
· Damping (negative) feedback loops, like the shocks in the car bring the car down
smoothly
· Most systems have both types of feedback loops
What is complexity? - Answers - Complexity is generally used to characterize something
with many parts where those parts interact with each other in multiple ways. The study
of these complex linkages is the main goal of complex systems theory.
How does this differ from something that is complicated? - Answers - Complex is used
to refer to the level of components in a system. If a problem is complex, it means that it
has many components. Complexity does not evoke difficulty.
How does this differ from something that is complicated? - Answers - The difference
between complexity and complicated arises from the number of components. A complex
system has many parts that are not directly linked together.
What is a complex system? - Answers - an interdisciplinary field of research that seeks
to explain how large numbers of relatively simple entities organize themselves, without
the benefit of a central controller, into a collective whole that creates patterns, uses
information, evolves and learns
Complex System examples - Answers - · Traffic. The domino effect of a driver's action,
like braking.
· Weather
Flocking
, What does complexity have to do with sustainability? How does this link to systems
thinking? - Answers - By understanding the complexity of a system, we can make
change to it that are sustainable.
What does systems thinking have to do with sustainability? - Answers - Resilience
thinking enables us to embrace complex systems as there rather than trying to change
their natural systems. By fully understanding these systems, we can make sustainable
changes to it.
What is resilience? - Answers - The ability of the system to absorb disturbances and still
maintain its purpose and structure.
What are the strengths and weaknesses of optimization? - Answers - · Linear model of
thinking, ineffective in understanding systems and solving problems
· Time span is shortened so it is good for rapid response but not for long-term
responses/views
· Puts value on land/ecosystem services that provide great benefits to the Earth
· Could have benefits, could improve efficiency
Describe one way in which a system may begin to oscillate. What does this mean for
system participants/managers? - Answers - · A time delay in a balancing feedback loop
can cause a system to oscillate. *Read car dealership demand in book.
· Lag time: the information needed to make a change comes later and the late action
causes oscillation.
Ex by discussion lead: Tesla has their consumers order their cars to help eliminate the
influxes in inventory. This is a new way of thinking: a game changer.
What is a critical threshold in a renewable resource system? - Answers - · A renewable
resource system is flow-limited meaning that they can support extraction forever as long
as the extraction rate is lower than or equal to the regeneration rate. If the extraction
rate is higher that the resources can reach a critical threshold (where the ability for the
resource to regenerate is damaged) and potentially become a non-renewable resource
system.
How is this different from a non-renewable system? - Answers - · A non-renewable
resource system is stock limited meaning that it is all available at once and there is
nothing feeding into it. The resource is limitted.
What does the author mean in the last paragraph in the chapter by structures and latent
behaviors? - Answers - When it's finally time to make a change it is already past the
point of necessary action or the situation has changed to drastically for the change to
make any difference. Whole issue of sustainability is to 'think ahead''.
What does the author mean by "stable states" or "regimes" or "basins of attraction"? -
Answers - Stable state: conditions where system is stable: change in state occurs when
a disturbance to a system is too big: pushes it over a threshold.
What is meant by "More is Different"? - Answers - The "more" things involved mean that
there is new "things" make what ever we are talking about different.
What is a system? - Answers - A system is an interconnected set of elements that is
coherently organized in a way that achieves something.
What is the importance of a stock? - Answers - A stock is the foundation of any system.
They are the elements of a system that you can see. Stocks change over time through
the actions of a flow.
Why are feedback loops important? - Answers - Feedback loops = basic operating unit
of a system. Consistent behavior pattern over a long period of time.
What are some types of feedback loops? Some examples? - Answers - · Mechanism
that allows a change in a stock to affect a flow into or out of the same stock
· Two types - Reinforcing (positive) feedback loops, like interest in a savings account
· Damping (negative) feedback loops, like the shocks in the car bring the car down
smoothly
· Most systems have both types of feedback loops
What is complexity? - Answers - Complexity is generally used to characterize something
with many parts where those parts interact with each other in multiple ways. The study
of these complex linkages is the main goal of complex systems theory.
How does this differ from something that is complicated? - Answers - Complex is used
to refer to the level of components in a system. If a problem is complex, it means that it
has many components. Complexity does not evoke difficulty.
How does this differ from something that is complicated? - Answers - The difference
between complexity and complicated arises from the number of components. A complex
system has many parts that are not directly linked together.
What is a complex system? - Answers - an interdisciplinary field of research that seeks
to explain how large numbers of relatively simple entities organize themselves, without
the benefit of a central controller, into a collective whole that creates patterns, uses
information, evolves and learns
Complex System examples - Answers - · Traffic. The domino effect of a driver's action,
like braking.
· Weather
Flocking
, What does complexity have to do with sustainability? How does this link to systems
thinking? - Answers - By understanding the complexity of a system, we can make
change to it that are sustainable.
What does systems thinking have to do with sustainability? - Answers - Resilience
thinking enables us to embrace complex systems as there rather than trying to change
their natural systems. By fully understanding these systems, we can make sustainable
changes to it.
What is resilience? - Answers - The ability of the system to absorb disturbances and still
maintain its purpose and structure.
What are the strengths and weaknesses of optimization? - Answers - · Linear model of
thinking, ineffective in understanding systems and solving problems
· Time span is shortened so it is good for rapid response but not for long-term
responses/views
· Puts value on land/ecosystem services that provide great benefits to the Earth
· Could have benefits, could improve efficiency
Describe one way in which a system may begin to oscillate. What does this mean for
system participants/managers? - Answers - · A time delay in a balancing feedback loop
can cause a system to oscillate. *Read car dealership demand in book.
· Lag time: the information needed to make a change comes later and the late action
causes oscillation.
Ex by discussion lead: Tesla has their consumers order their cars to help eliminate the
influxes in inventory. This is a new way of thinking: a game changer.
What is a critical threshold in a renewable resource system? - Answers - · A renewable
resource system is flow-limited meaning that they can support extraction forever as long
as the extraction rate is lower than or equal to the regeneration rate. If the extraction
rate is higher that the resources can reach a critical threshold (where the ability for the
resource to regenerate is damaged) and potentially become a non-renewable resource
system.
How is this different from a non-renewable system? - Answers - · A non-renewable
resource system is stock limited meaning that it is all available at once and there is
nothing feeding into it. The resource is limitted.
What does the author mean in the last paragraph in the chapter by structures and latent
behaviors? - Answers - When it's finally time to make a change it is already past the
point of necessary action or the situation has changed to drastically for the change to
make any difference. Whole issue of sustainability is to 'think ahead''.
What does the author mean by "stable states" or "regimes" or "basins of attraction"? -
Answers - Stable state: conditions where system is stable: change in state occurs when
a disturbance to a system is too big: pushes it over a threshold.
