{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,2,16]],"date-time":"2026-02-16T16:26:11Z","timestamp":1771259171206,"version":"3.50.1"},"reference-count":14,"publisher":"MDPI AG","issue":"2","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2014,5,22]],"date-time":"2014-05-22T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1400716800000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/3.0\/"}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["Systems"],"abstract":"<jats:p>While public-sector management problems are steeped in positivistic and socially constructed complexity, public management education in the management of complexity lags behind that of business schools, particularly in the application of simulation-based learning. This paper describes a Simulation-Based Learning Environment for public management education that includes a coupled case study and System Dynamics simulation surrounding flood protection, a domain where stewardship decisions regarding public infrastructure and investment have direct and indirect effects on businesses and the public. The Pointe Claire case and CoastalProtectSIM simulation provide a platform for policy experimentation under conditions of exogenous uncertainty (weather and climate change) as well as endogenous effects generated by structure. We discuss the model in some detail, and present teaching materials developed to date to support the use of our work in public administration curricula. Our experience with this case demonstrates the potential of this approach to motivate sustainable learning about complexity in public management settings and enhance learners\u2019 competency to deal with complex dynamic problems.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.3390\/systems2020217","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2014,5,23]],"date-time":"2014-05-23T03:23:32Z","timestamp":1400815412000},"page":"217-236","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/mdpi_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":19,"title":["Simulation-Based Learning Environments to Teach Complexity: The Missing Link in Teaching Sustainable Public Management"],"prefix":"10.3390","volume":"2","author":[{"given":"Michael","family":"Deegan","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Institute for Water Resources, 7701 Telegraph Road, Alexandria, VA 22315, USA"}]},{"given":"Krystyna","family":"Stave","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"School of Environmental and Public Affairs, University of Nevada Las Vegas,  4505 Maryland Parkway, Las Vegas, NV 89154, USA"}]},{"given":"Rod","family":"MacDonald","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Institute for System Dynamics in the Public Sector, University at Albany, State University of New York, 1400 Washington Avenue, Albany, NY 12222, USA"}]},{"given":"David","family":"Andersen","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Public Administration, Rockefeller College of Public Affairs and Policy,  University at Albany, State University of New York, 1400 Washington Avenue, Albany,  NY 12222, USA"}]},{"given":"Minyoung","family":"Ku","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Public Administration, Rockefeller College of Public Affairs and Policy,  University at Albany, State University of New York, 1400 Washington Avenue, Albany,  NY 12222, USA"}]},{"given":"Eliot","family":"Rich","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Information Technology Management, School of Business, University at Albany, State University of New York, 1400 Washington Avenue, Albany, NY 12222, USA"}]}],"member":"1968","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2014,5,22]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref_1","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"53","DOI":"10.1080\/15236803.2013.12001720","article-title":"Developing decision-making skills for uncertain conditions: The challenge of educating effective emergency managers","volume":"19","author":"Comfort","year":"2013","journal-title":"J. Public Aff. Educ."},{"key":"ref_2","unstructured":"National Association of Schools of Public Affairs and Administration, Accreditation Standards for Master\u2019s Degree Programs in Public Administration. Available online:http:\/\/www.naspaa.org\/accreditation\/NS\/naspaaStandards.asp."},{"key":"ref_3","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"79","DOI":"10.2307\/973677","article-title":"The Science of \u201cMuddling Through\u201d","volume":"19","author":"Lindblom","year":"1959","journal-title":"Public Adm. Rev."},{"key":"ref_4","unstructured":"Couture, M. (2007). Complexity and Chaos\u2014State-of-the-Art; List of Works, Experts, Organizations, Projects, Journals, Conferences and Tools, Defence Research and Development Canada."},{"key":"ref_5","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"513","DOI":"10.1080\/15236803.2012.12001697","article-title":"Exploring the role of interactive computer simulations in public administration education","volume":"18","author":"Hu","year":"2012","journal-title":"J. Public Aff. Educ."},{"key":"ref_6","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"291","DOI":"10.1002\/sdr.4260100214","article-title":"Learning in and about complex systems","volume":"10","author":"Sterman","year":"1994","journal-title":"Syst. Dyn. Rev."},{"key":"ref_7","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Kim, H., MacDonald, R.H., and Andersen, D.F. (2013). Simulation and managerial decision making: A double-loop learning framework. Public Adm. Rev.","DOI":"10.1111\/j.1540-6210.2012.02656.x"},{"key":"ref_8","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"337","DOI":"10.1080\/10967494.2012.725566","article-title":"Modeling behavioral complexities of warning issuance for domestic security: A simulation approach to develop public management theories","volume":"15","author":"Ghaffarzadegan","year":"2012","journal-title":"Int. Public Manag. J."},{"key":"ref_9","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"70","DOI":"10.1002\/sdr.1496","article-title":"When visuals are boundary objects in system dynamics work","volume":"29","author":"Black","year":"2013","journal-title":"Syst. Dyn. Rev."},{"key":"ref_10","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"194","DOI":"10.1002\/sres.2106","article-title":"Using visual representations as boundary objects to resolve conflict in collaborative model-building approaches","volume":"29","author":"Black","year":"2012","journal-title":"Syst. Res. Behav. Sci."},{"key":"ref_11","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Sawyer, R.K. (2006). The Cambridge Handbook of the Learning Sciences, Cambridge University Press.","DOI":"10.1017\/CBO9780511816833"},{"key":"ref_12","unstructured":"Stave, K., Beck, A., and Galvan, C. (2014). Assessing the effects of simulation-based learning on operational understanding of accumulation principles. Simulat. Gaming, in press."},{"key":"ref_13","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"295","DOI":"10.1002\/sdr.1474","article-title":"Climate interactive: The C-ROADS climate policy model","volume":"28","author":"Sterman","year":"2012","journal-title":"Syst. Dyn. Rev."},{"key":"ref_14","unstructured":"Forio Simulation Portal. Available online:http:\/\/www.forio.com."}],"container-title":["Systems"],"original-title":[],"language":"en","link":[{"URL":"https:\/\/www.mdpi.com\/2079-8954\/2\/2\/217\/pdf","content-type":"unspecified","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"similarity-checking"}],"deposited":{"date-parts":[[2025,10,11]],"date-time":"2025-10-11T21:11:42Z","timestamp":1760217102000},"score":1,"resource":{"primary":{"URL":"https:\/\/www.mdpi.com\/2079-8954\/2\/2\/217"}},"subtitle":[],"short-title":[],"issued":{"date-parts":[[2014,5,22]]},"references-count":14,"journal-issue":{"issue":"2","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2014,6]]}},"alternative-id":["systems2020217"],"URL":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/systems2020217","relation":{},"ISSN":["2079-8954"],"issn-type":[{"value":"2079-8954","type":"electronic"}],"subject":[],"published":{"date-parts":[[2014,5,22]]}}}