**Pattern Number:**
**Pattern Name:**
Designing Experiments
**Introduction:**
The map is not the territory. The model is not the system.
**Illustration:**
Designing Experiments. source
**CONTEXT:**
**PROBLEM:**
**System Dynamics Models simulate the structure of the system in our model. This may not reflect reality!**
**No value is generated by a model alone. We generate value when we take action as a result of an insight gained from our model.**
**Forces:**
**THEREFORE (SOLUTION):**
**Reflect that all interventions are experiments that we must set up and monitor carefully to enable learning.**
**We improve our understanding and therefore our ability to influence the system with good experiments. Good experiments are an ongoing conversation with the system.**
**Actions:**
Use your models to design better experiments by identifying your high leverage points. Ideally these will fix the root cause of an issue and use the system structure to deliver ongoing benefit.
**Consequences:**
**Known Uses:**
**RELATED PATTERNS:**