Markus Schwaninger
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Prof. em. Dr.
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Schwaninger
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Markus
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markus.schwaninger@unisg.ch
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+41 71 224 2382
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Now showing 1 - 10 of 17
  • Publication
    O Que é Engenharia de Variedade e Porquê Precisamos Dela?
    (Unitins, 2023)
    Schwaninger, Markus
    ;
    Ott, Stefan
    ;
    Alves, Juliana Mariano
    Type: conference paper
    URI: https://www.alexandria.unisg.ch/handle/20.500.14171/107934
  • Publication
    Application of System Dynamics to Assess Mass Flows of Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE)
    (International System Dynamics Society, 2012-07-22)
    Khetriwal, Deepali
    ;
    Widmer, Rolf
    ;
    Schwaninger, Markus
    ;
    Hilty, Lorenz
    The consumption and disposal of electrical and electronic equipment forms a dynamic system. This paper applies system dynamics methodology to assess mass flows of end-of-life equipment. In the paper, two modelling approaches to forecasting disposal of consumer dura-bles are discussed, namely the "delay model" approach and the "reverse diffusion model" ap-proach. Applying the same dataset on the disposal of cathode ray tube personal computer monitors in Switzerland to both the approaches, the estimates and forecasts of the models are compared against real system data. The comparison provides a
    Type: conference paper
    URI: https://www.alexandria.unisg.ch/handle/20.500.14171/91283
  • Publication
    Crisis Prevention : What Is Necessary to Avoid the Next Crisis?
    (Austrian Society for Cybernetic Studies, 2010-04-06)
    Schwaninger, Markus
    ;
    Grösser, Stefan N.
    ;
    Trappl, Robert
    The current economic crisis could deliver valuable lessons for economic agents. However, it seems that those have not learnt essential lessons, continuing their "business as usual". A dynamic simulation model presented in this chapter highlights that this is likely to lead to the next crunch in the offing. Even before we have mastered this crisis the next one is already looming. Does prevention have a chance? How can it be achieved?
    Type: conference paper
    URI: https://www.alexandria.unisg.ch/handle/20.500.14171/96624
  • Publication
    A Validation Methodology for System Dynamics Models
    (Curran Associates, Inc., 2009-07-26)
    Grösser, Stefan N.
    ;
    Schwaninger, Markus
    This paper joins into the effort of the System Dynamics community for higher model quality. The literature in the field has bred a number of contributions concerning tests for the validation of System Dynamics models and the epistemological foundations of validation. To date, however, little has been said about a validation methodology for simulations, especially for System Dynamics models. By validation methodology, we understand the systematic elicitation, description, and reflection of issues related to the subject ‘validation'. The paper's over-all contribution is a blueprint for a validation methodology. We explicitly address the follow-ing three topics: Complexity engineering through validation tests, integrated validation proc-ess, and finally the ‘cessation decision'. The first defines validation tests according to their capability to absorb model complexity; the second designs a validation process which ad-dresses the domains of validation (structure, behaviour and context validation) and the degree of resolution (micro, meso, macro) integratively and iteratively. And third, ‘cession decision' creates a heuristic method for the saturation of a System Dynamics model and conceptually defines when to cease with validation efforts. The paper concludes by pointing out further directions of research about a validation methodology.
    Type: conference paper
    URL: https://www.systemdynamics.org/assets/conferences/2009/proceed/abstracts/1039.html
    URI: https://www.alexandria.unisg.ch/handle/20.500.14171/75763
  • Publication
    New Frontiers in the Validation of Simulation Models - Structural Dominance Analysis
    (Springer, 2009-05-29)
    Schwaninger, Markus
    ;
    Grösser, Stefan N.
    ;
    Moreno-Díaz, Roberto
    ;
    Pichler, Franz
    ;
    Quesada-Arencibia, Alexis
    Models should be relevant for coping with the complexity of the real world. At the same time, the methods by which they are constructed and validated must be rigorous; otherwise the quality of the model suffers. We take a test of model structure, demonstrating a new technique of analysis of the model's structure called Structural Dominance Analysis (SDA). SDA has been developed in the science of complex systems [Kampmann and Oliva 2006; Kampmann and Oliva 2009]. SDA makes use of one axiom of System Dynamics: model structure influences the behavioral outcome of a simulation [Forrester 1993]. In principle, SDA evaluates the relative partial influence of individual feedback loops on the behavior of the variables of interest. Based on this evaluation, loop dominance then signifies which particular piece of model structure is dominant, i.e., most influential for the behavior in a certain period of time. Research about loop dominance has bred several formal and informal techniques to enable SDA [Kampmann and Oliva 2008]. In this paper, we revert to an behavioral technique by Ford [1999]. The rationale for using SDA as a validation method is to compare the discovered dominant model structures with the model structures the modeler or expert perceives as dominant in the real system under study. Especially, the comparison of the shifts of dominance between structures over time is a fruitful source for model validation. In this respect, the presented approach is based on a formal quantitative analysis, but for the interpretation it relies on a qualitative comparison of the model with the real system under study. The Structural Dominance Test (SDT) is a means of validating the macro-structure of a simulation model. To apply SDA for the issue of validation is a novelty of this paper. Its application requires a feedback based, continuous-time simulation model, as used in System Dynamics. A brief case study demonstrates the new technique for validation purposes.
    Type: conference paper
    Journal: Lecture Notes in Computer Science (LNCS)
    Volume: Volume 5717
    DOI: 10.1007/978-3-642-04772-5_8
    URI: https://www.alexandria.unisg.ch/handle/20.500.14171/76063
    Scopus© Citations 3
  • Publication
    Modeling as Theory-Building
    (26th International System Dynamics Conference, 2008-07-20)
    Schwaninger, Markus
    ;
    Grösser, Stefan N.
    The purpose of this contribution is to make the idea of modeling as theory-building operational. We conceive the modeling process as a theory-building process, thereby opening up a new perspective on the methodology of modeling in the social sciences. By reconceptualizing the notion of modeling, we hope to convey the advantages of more conceptual thinking in management. Practitioners could gain effectiveness in dealing with external complexity if they would espouse the modeling task as a disciplined reflection and communication geared toward the elaboration of theories. This contribution is based on projects in which System Dynamics models for real-world issues were constructed together with corporate partners. To clarify the isomorphic nature of theory-building and formal modeling and illustrate the approach to modeling as theory-building, one of these modeling ventures is described in detail
    Type: conference paper
    URL: https://www.systemdynamics.org/assets/conferences/2008/proceed/papers/SCHWA162.pdf
    URI: https://www.alexandria.unisg.ch/handle/20.500.14171/78075
  • Publication
    Modeling as Theory-Building
    (Proceedings of the 26th International Conference of the System Dynamics Society, 2008-07-23)
    Schwaninger, Markus
    ;
    Grösser, Stefan N.
    The purpose of this contribution is to make the idea of modeling as theory-building operational. We conceive the modeling process as a theory-building process, thereby opening up a new perspective on the methodology of modeling in the social sciences. By reconceptualizing the notion of modeling, we hope to convey the advantages of more conceptual thinking in management. Practitioners could gain effectiveness in dealing with external complexity if they would espouse the modeling task as a disciplined reflection and communication geared toward the elaboration of theories. This contribution is based on projects in which System Dynamics models for real-world issues were constructed together with corporate partners. To clarify the isomorphic nature of theory-building and formal modeling and illustrate the approach to modeling as theory-building, one of these modeling ventures is described in detail.
    Type: conference paper
    URI: https://www.alexandria.unisg.ch/handle/20.500.14171/78072
  • Publication
    The Quest for Ecological Sustainability : A Multi-level Issue
    (Austrian Soc. for Cybernetic Studies, 2006-04-18)
    Schwaninger, Markus
    ;
    Trappl, Robert
    Type: conference paper
    URI: https://www.alexandria.unisg.ch/handle/20.500.14171/82984
  • Publication
    The Quest for Ecological Sustainability: A Multi-level Issue
    ( 2006-04-18)
    Schwaninger, Markus
    The issue of ecological sustainability has been addressed in various contexts - local, regional and world-wide. This paper postulates that sustainability can only be achieved if actors at multiple levels cooperate toward the vision of a sustainable world. For this purpose, the structure of a model is presented, which shows how the efforts for sustainability can be organized in a more powerful way. This presentation should also help decision-makers understand that pertinent frameworks are needed to enable actors at each level, from individual to global.
    Type: conference paper
    URI: https://www.alexandria.unisg.ch/handle/20.500.14171/82985