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Thinkie: Influence Diagram

Deep Dives

Explore related topics with these Wikipedia articles, rewritten for enjoyable reading:

  • Causal loop diagram 12 min read

    Influence diagrams are closely related to causal loop diagrams used in systems thinking - understanding this formal methodology would give readers deeper insight into how Kent Beck's pattern maps system effects and their relationships

  • System dynamics 14 min read

    Kent Beck's influence diagram approach draws from system dynamics, the field pioneered by Jay Forrester at MIT for understanding complex systems through feedback loops and stock-flow relationships

  • Influence diagram 13 min read

    The formal decision analysis tool that shares the name with Kent Beck's pattern - readers would benefit from understanding the mathematical foundation and how it differs from Beck's more intuitive software design application

Thinkie: Influence Diagram

By Kent Beck

Pattern: you have a big, complicated system that’s acting up & you’d like to regain influence over it

Transformation: diagram the effects you observe in the system & their influence on each other

Thinkie: Influence Diagram follows from Thinkie: Separate Observation From Judgement. We aren’t rushing to take action. More probably we have stepped back from t…

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