Learning Organization Practitioners' Network (LOPN)
    A network from Singapore connected to SoL Global
Attributions to Jennifer Kemeny, Michael Goodman, Daniel H. Kim, Ernst Diehl, Christian Kampmann, Jack Nevison,
John Sterman, Donella Meadows, Virginia H. Anderson, David Peter Stroh
See real-life case studies using these system archetypes here!

*An archetype (play /ˈɑrkɪtaɪp/) is a universally understood symbol or term or pattern of behavior, a
prototype upon which others are copied, patterned, or emulated. Archetypes are often used in myths
and storytelling across different cultures.

These ten archetypes* or "generic structures" identified and codified by people in Systems Dynamics can be used to
explain the difficult challenges, particularly recurring dynamic complexities that are common to
a variety of management and scale them up to national situations!

FOLLOW THE BEHAVIOUR OVER TIME GRAPHS (SEE TREND LINES BELOW) TO DISCOVER THE ARCHETYPES THAT ARE
CREATING THESE TRENDS (OR TRAPS OR VICIOUS CIRCLES WE ARE INADVERTENTLY CAUGHT UP IN)!
Nature of Archetype
(mouse- over pictures
for more...)
 Archetype Behaviour
Over Time
 Name of Archetype
(click on link to see the
structure)
 Nature of Archetype
(mouse- over pictures
for more...)
 Archetype Behaviour
Over Time
 Name of Archetype
(click on link to see the
structure)
I think of Growth
 I think of maintaining the status quo
(by fixing a problem)
FOR A LONG TIME, NOTHING IS HAPPENING. THEN SUDDENLY SOMETHING HAPPENS AT AN INCREASINGLY FASTER RATE!
Reinforcing Loop
I ACT WHEN I SEE A GAP (FROM MY INTENDED GOAL)
Balancing Loop
I SEEM TO BE RUNNING ON THE SPOT!
Limits to Success
PROPERTY BOOMS AND DOOMS
Balancing Loop
with Delay
Success to the
Successful
JUST DO IT (CORRECT THE TEENAGER)! WE WILL WORRY THE CONSEQUENCES LATER.
Fixes that Backfire
THE LAG NEEDED TO BUILD QUALITY AFFECTS THE WILLINGNESS TO COMMIT INVESTMENTS LEADING TO DECLINING DEMAND OVER TIME.
Growth and
Underinvestment
I NEED A BANDAIDNOW!
Shifting the Burden
Tragedy of the
Commons
I MUST WIN, AND HE MUST NOT WIN!
Escalation
THE BEST OF FRIENDS BECOME THE WORST OF ENEMIES
Accidental Adversaries
Drifting Goals
System Archetypes and Systems Thinking
The Fifth Discipline - The Cornerstone of Learning Organization