thinking-feedback-loops
Feedback Loop Analysis
Overview
Feedback loop analysis (Donella Meadows, "Thinking in Systems") explains how a dynamic system behaves over time. Loops either amplify change (reinforcing) or stabilize toward a goal (balancing); delays between cause and effect produce oscillation. When a system grows uncontrollably, collapses, oscillates, or refuses to change, the loop structure is the cause.
Core Principle: System behavior emerges from feedback structure. To change behavior, change the loops.
Trigger Card
When a system shows dynamic behavior (runaway growth, oscillation, resistance to change):
- Classify the behavior: growing/collapsing → look for a reinforcing loop; oscillating → look for a balancing loop with delay; stuck → look for a dominant balancing loop.
- Trace the loop: what variable feeds back into itself? Map causal connections with direction (+/-).
- Find the leverage: shorten a delay, change a loop's gain, or add a balancing loop to a runaway reinforcing one.
If there's no dynamic behavior (static, one-time cause), skip — just fix it. For overall system mapping, use thinking-systems. For choosing where to intervene in an already-mapped loop, use thinking-leverage-points.