Holistic Strategy: collective and experiential learning tools to support strategic processes

2 Acknowledgements For the accomplishment of this work, I wish to place on record my gratitude to Professor Markus Venzin first of all for providing me with the inspiration to undertake this study in his introductory course on Strategy. Second, my thanks to Professor Venzin are also due for the precious insights and advice he has given me throughout the writing of this text, for the time he dedicated to review it in detail, and for the patience with which he endured my moments of confusion and frenzy. My sincere thanks and personal esteem are also addressed to Professor Guido Corbetta whose energetic encouragements have specially supported my research and writing efforts. I am deeply indebted with Professor Edoardo Mollona, for having introduced me to the System Dynamics Society in Italy and for allowing me to consult and copy the proceedings of the System Dynamics’ International Conferences, besides helping me to clear some uncertainties regarding the approach of this methodology. The staff of the Biblioteca Bocconi deserves a particular mention for its efficiency and willingness to help, along with Federica Boscolo and Nicola Vaccaro of Help, who have generously supplied the information regarding Powersim’s applications analyzed in the third part of this writing. Finally, special thanks are due to my friend Enzo Broggini, for technical support, and to my family and friends, for their treasured affection and care in these quite frenetic months.