Conceptual Diagrams and Flow Diagrams

Abstract

Diagrams are probably the next most widely used type of models after mental and verbal models. Intuitively when presenting a model we tend to start drawing diagrams to explain the assumptions and simplifications made. With the advent of new software tools it becomes easier to use the computer to design these conceptual diagrams, especially since these software packages in many cases can convert the diagrams into computer code and generate numerical models for further analysis. Most of the systems dynamics software (such as Stella, Madonna, Powersim, Simile and others) can be readily used to put together conceptual models and flow diagrams. More advanced tools are based on the UML (Unified Modeling Language) approach and can generate computer code in Java, PHP, C++, Python, and other languages.