Overview: Causal Loop Diagrams (CLDs)

A useful way to explain or communicate your model is to present it as a causal loop diagram (CLD). A CLD allows you to show only the dominant feedback loops or selected causal connections between entities in your model.

By using a CLD, others can quickly see the overall causal relationships in the model without being distracted by the other details that are necessary to simulate the model. The software allows you to create two types of CLDs:

• Hybrid CLDs are used to communicate the feedback loops in an existing stock and flow model; each feedback loop in the diagrams requires at least one stock.
• High-level CLDs are used to create maps of the high-level causal relationships by showing words (names) and arrows that indicate the direction of causality.

The following sections provide an example of a hybrid CLD, and how to create high-level and hybrid CLDs.

What do you want to do?

See a sample hybrid CLD

Learn how to create high-level and hybrid CLDs

See Also