Building upon previous work in the field of system dynamics, a generic model of multiple improvement programs is outlined. The model is used to create insightful stories on success and failure in process improvement initiatives. The simulation experiments reveal that plants should strive for implementation patterns that focus on programs exhibiting higher organizational complexity rather than technical complexity. Furthermore, the simulation analyses provide insights in the interplay between organizational learning, program commitment, and process improvement. The value of the conducted approach lies in the explicit investigation of the impact of varying improvement program patterns on plant performance.