Abstract for: System Dynamics Modelling in the Development of Management and Organisational Theory

This paper explores the contribution and the influence of system dynamics in the development of management and organisation theory. It begins with a brief discussion of the contribution of computer simulation in theory development for the above areas. It then discusses the practice of theory development using Bourdieu’s concepts of Field and Habitus, and places the system dynamics methodology in their context by considering the influence that system dynamics scholars can have in these fields. The resulting conceptual framework is then demonstrated by presenting two different cases of operation strategy theory development using system dynamics modelling and simulation.