iThink and STELLA - features and benefits
Choose iThink for business, finance or public services
Going beyond spreadsheets and other linear approaches to business planning, iThink provides a 'whole system' or big picture view of your entire business, or of a specific issue. iThink is an extremely powerful tool for capturing and communicating interdependencies across all elements of the business. iThink's documentation and sample models cover all aspects of business, finance and strategy - with a wealth of examples that you will find educational, stimulating and great for starting your own simulation efforts.
Choose STELLA for education and research
STELLA is targeted toward education and research. Its documentation and sample models cover the natural and social sciences. Within the STELLA product, you'll find out how the software can be applied in Biology, Chemistry, Environmental Science, Economics, Psychology, History and Physics.
Easy-to-use STELLA models provide endless opportunities to explore by asking "what if" and watching what happens in a simulation, inspiring the exciting 'ah-ha' moments of learning. Thousands of educators and researchers have made STELLA the gold standard; using it to study everything from economics to physics, literature to calculus, chemistry to public policy. University, college, and research communities have all recognized STELLA’s unique ability to stimulate learning.
For the technically minded, here are some of the key features of both products:
Mapping and Modelling
- Intuitive icon-based graphical interface simplifies model building
- Stock and Flow diagrams support the common language of Systems Thinking and provide insight into modeled business processes
- Causal Loop Diagrams present overall causal relationships
- Enhanced stock types enable discrete and continuous processes with support for queues, ovens, and enhanced conveyors
- Model equations are automatically generated and made accessible beneath the model layer
- Built-in functions facilitate mathematical, statistical, and logical operations
- Arrays represent repeated model structure simply and easily
- Modules support multi-level, hierarchical model structures that can serve as “building blocks” for model construction
Simulation and Analysis
- Simulations "run" processes represented in models
- Sensitivity analysis reveals key leverage points and optimal conditions
- Partial model simulations focus analysis on specific sectors or modules of the model
- Results presented as graphs, tables, animations, QuickTime movies, and files
- Dynamic data import/export links to Microsoft® Excel
Communication
- Flight simulators and dashboards describe model components and facilitate manipulation
- Input devices include knobs, sliders, switches, and buttons
- Output devices highlight outcomes with warning flashers, text, graphs, tables, and reports
- Storytelling supports step-by-step model unveiling
- Causal Loop Diagrams present dominant feedback loops within structure
- Sketchable graphs allow easy comparison of expected results with actual simulations
- Export for NetSim support publishing and sharing model over the web using isee NetSim add-on software
- Save as Runtime option creates full-screen, runtime models
- Multimedia support triggers graphics, movies, sounds, and text messages based on model conditions
- Model security features allow locking or password protection.
