System dynamics is a powerful complement for business intelligence in general. With a clear vision of the features, advantages, and limitations of these tools, we can expect important improvements in decision making and consequently in organizational performance.
The application of system dynamics implies the need to adopt the “systems thinking” paradigm as a new way to see business dynamics. A gradual process is suggested for this purpose, combining skills development exercises with the support of modeling software, if this is available (Casado, 2002). Another concern is the need to continue to trace the developments in knowledge management and intellectual capital, because it is necessary to improve the quantification and representation of intangible variables to be included in system dynamics models.
In the near future, the increasing rate of adoption of BI tools will equilibrate the advantage of their utilization by an organization with respect to others. At this point, only a clear understanding of the behavior of social systems, beyond discovering only trends and patterns, will bring back competitive advantage in the business world.