System Dynamics Glossary
What is the meaning of Positive feedback?
Positive feedback is a form of circular causality,
which acts as a growth-generating mechanism. The state of the
system, such as one’s bank balance, grows continually larger as
interest payments act as the rate of change. This is
sometimes called a virtuous circle, as opposed to a vicious
circle, which arises when the balance becomes negative and one
gets deeper and deeper into debt as interest is added
to the debt. Positive feedback is quite common
in managed and may be valuable as an engine of
growth. In an engineering system, however, positive feedback
is undesirable and is designed out, which is one reason
why the mathematical techniques of control engineering are of little
help in designing managed systems. For a more detailed explanation
of the feedback phenomenon, see Richardson (1991) and Coyle (1996).
Also see negative feedback.
Books Related to Positive feedback
Janelle Barlow and
Claus Moller, "A Complaint Is a Gift: Using Customer Feedback
As a Strategic Tool".
—More information on A Complaint
Is a Gift: Using Customer Feedback As a Strategic Tool
Elettra
Agliardi and E. Agliardi, "Positive Feedback Economies".
—More information on
Positive Feedback Economies
Other topics in our resources on System Dynamics related to Positive feedback include:
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