Comparing Results of Functional Modeling Methods for Agricultural Process and Implement Development Problems

In this article Joe A. Miller and Ellen Domb discuss the functionality and outcomes of two different modeling techniques when confronted with process and development problems.  In order to solve a system problem it is necessary to model the system to determine the system’s functions, the relationship of those functions, and which functions are useful or harmful.  Three modeling systems discussed include the problem formulator, function analysis and causal loop models. These models reach the same possible solutions but take different paths, creating different perspectives and solutions not visible with the use a singular path.