Structural Analysis of System Dynamics Models

System dynamics (SD) is an established discipline to model and simulate complex dynamic systems. The primary goal of SD evaluate design new policies that can impact the system under study in a desired way. Policy design, is, identifying effective levers, however, challenge many cases trial-and-error driven. In this article, we introduce coherent framework for analysis, called structural analysis methods (SAM), facilitate policy process models. SAM provides resource-efficient means detection candidate parameters. It enables identify intended unintended effects activating these parameters, discover changes such as introducing variables links main innovation it translates structure models into weighted digraphs allowing algorithmic tools from realms graph theory network science be applied SD. validated on basis two well-known simulation increasing complexity: third-order Phosphorus Loops Soil Sediment (PLUM) fifth-order World2 model. validation shows seems most valuable more (World2) less suited low complexity (PLUM).