Subject: Stocks and Flows

Posted by Steve Wantuch on 3/5/2004
In Reply To:Stocks and Flows Posted by Rob Quaden on 3/2/2004

Message:

In terms of defining Facts and Thinking as either Stocks or Flows, we look at whether they are accumulating. In this case, I would classify Facts as a stock, They accumulate as part of learning or experiencing and may be depleted by forgetting, for instance. As for Thinking, without knowing what the issue being modeled was, I would tend to classify Thinking as a flow. Reasons could include the process orientation of thinking and the fact that if you stop thinking it might be said that there is no accumulation of thoughts.

In Bill's case, I would agree that earning (the 'ing' as a verb describes action) is a flow, and savings represents a stock (a noun is more representative of an accumulation)

Sincerely,

Steve Wantuch
ithink/Stella Customer Support Representative
isee systems™
(formerly High Performance Systems)