Abstract for: Normatively Framed System Dynamics (NFSD): A Progressive Architecture for Integrating Strategic Sustainability Planning with System Dynamics

Sustainability transitions require long-term strategic planning under deep uncertainty and strong feedback structures. System dynamics provides powerful tools for analysing system behaviour, while the Framework for Strategic Sustainable Development (FSSD) offers principled guidance for defining sustainability goals. However, these approaches are rarely integrated. This paper asks whether strategic sustainability planning based on the FSSD and system dynamics can be formally combined to support more effective sustainability transitions. The paper contributes to system dynamics practice by analysing how qualitative mapping and quantitative simulation can be strengthened through explicit normative framing. A conceptual integration between system dynamics and strategic sustainability planning based on the FSSD is developed and illustrated through a regional electromobility transition case in Sweden (GreenCharge Southeast), supported by prior reports and modelling work. The analysis shows that strategic sustainability planning and system dynamics can be integrated through a progressively deepening analytical process moving from normative framing to structural mapping and dynamic modelling when additional insight is required. This integrated architecture is termed Normatively Framed System Dynamics (NFSD). Although illustrated using sustainability planning based on the FSSD, the NFSD architecture is general and can be applied to system dynamics analyses guided by other normative principles. Future work will focus on operationalizing the architecture in detailed simulation models and testing its usefulness in additional real-world strategic planning contexts. ChatGPT5 was used as a language and structuring aid.