08/24/2026
In Memoriam: Remembering Colin Eden
The System Dynamics community mourns the passing of Emeritus Professor Colin Eden, a distinguished scholar and longtime member of the international management science community, who became internationally recognized for his contributions to strategy-making, cognitive mapping, group decision support, action research, and the modeling of disruption and delay in complex projects. He authored 12 books and more than 200 scholarly articles.
Colin’s work had an important and lasting influence on the System Dynamics community, particularly through his ability to connect qualitative approaches to understanding complex systems with formal modeling and strategic decision-making. His pioneering work on cognitive mapping and Strategic Options Development and Analysis (SODA) helped practitioners and researchers structure complex problems, incorporate multiple stakeholder perspectives, and support groups in developing strategy. His contributions to causal risk mapping, major-project analysis, stakeholder mapping, and facilitated modeling strengthened the connections between System Dynamics, operational research, and other approaches for helping people act effectively in complex systems.
Beyond his scholarship, Colin is remembered by colleagues and collaborators for his generosity, encouragement, and willingness to share his knowledge. As System Dynamics continues to address increasingly interconnected societal and organizational challenges, Colin’s contributions to understanding complexity and supporting collaborative decision-making will remain part of his enduring legacy.
🔗 Memorial: https://ow.ly/aAQs50ZCLmy
