System dynamics modelling and simulation for sociotechnical transitions research

• Published in: Environmental innovation and societal transitions Vol. 31; pp. 248 - 261
• Main Author: Papachristos, George
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier B.V 01.06.2019
• Subjects: Simulation methods; Sustainability; System dynamics; Transitions; System dynamics; Transitions; Sustainability; Simulation methods
• ISSN: 2210-4224; 2210-4232
• DOI: 10.1016/j.eist.2018.10.001

•System dynamics modelling and simulation research has a large potential contribution to transition research.•The paper discusses exemplary system dynamics research that is directly relevant to transition research.•The paper discusses the interface of case study and simulation research.•The paper discusses system dynamics research that corresponds to the micro, meso, macro levels of transition research analysis. Sociotechnical transitions is an emerging research area that uses several methods, amongst which case study and simulation models are often applied. This paper focuses on system dynamics modelling and simulation research and its potential contribution to transition research. Current system dynamics work comes from a wide range of disciplines and spans across the micro, meso, and macro levels which transitions are predominantly analysed along. This overlap carries considerable potential as a conceptual and theoretical basis for transition research. The paper explores this potential and provides a cursory exposition of system dynamics research and exemplary work that is directly relevant to transition research. It raises a number of points that indicate the potential of system dynamics for transition research in terms of methodology and case study research, the behavioural aspects of transitions, and particular subject areas that lie at the organizational field level: technology platforms, business models and organizational change.