Subject: Modeling: Archetypes vs. Stock & Flow

Posted by Bill Braun on 12/28/2009
In Reply To:Modeling: Archetypes vs. Stock & Flow Posted by Gene Bellinger on 12/27/2009

Message:

Archetype, from Random House...

1. the original pattern or model from which all things of the same kind are copied or on which they are based; a model or first form; prototype.

2. (in Jungian psychology) a collectively inherited unconscious idea, pattern of thought, image, etc., universally present in individual psyches.

In the above we cover physical and social systems, and mental models (albeit at 35,000 feet); OMV.

The eight original archetypes (EG, Es, FF, GU, LG, SB, SS, and TC), and Wolstenholme's four generic archetypes, speak to commonly recurring patters of behavior in social systems, typically applied to organizations. While we may find one or more of the eight original archetypes represented in many dynamic interactions, not all descriptions of dynamic interaction are themselves archetypes. They would have to be commonly occurring and generic to be an archetype. (So me thinks.)

Wolstenholme's work is, for me, of growing importance. Having reduced the archetypes to four (I'm ignoring the problem and solution dimension of each, which adds up to eight), I find them more useful than expanding in the other direction. There will always be some variation of an archetype. I have doubts about declaring each variation a separate archetype. (That statement assumes I clearly understand what Gene is working toward, which I may not.) It seems to me there is no end to documenting variations of archetypes.

Bill Braun