For information about using the Oil Producers' Microworld please contact John Morecroft at London Business School.

Based in both Scenario Planning and Systems Thinking the Oil Producers' Microworld may be used in teaching these popular and powerful approaches. At the heart of the Oil Producers’ Microworld is a dynamic simulation model of the global oil industry. Users take the part of the world’s independent oil producers and can experiment with policies that change the future.

The oil industry has a fascinating and turbulent past and our society has become totally dependent on it. The Oil Producers’ Microworld is aimed at a broad category of users who will gain an appreciation of the dynamics of a complex industrial system; how supply and demand often go hand in hand, but not always; and how minor disturbances can have disastrous long-term consequences.

The Oil Producers’ Microworld is a sophisticated tool, and is interesting and insightful whether or not participants are associated with the oil industry. Those involved in higher education and executive education will find it as useful as those in companies endeavouring to enhance their system thinking or scenario planning skills.

Authors: Paul A. Langley (McKinsey & Company), John D.W. Morecroft (London Business School) and Linda E Morecroft (Systems Thinking Network).