Enabling a Simulation Capability in the Organisation (eBook)

Andrew Greasley is a lecturer in Information Systems, Operational Research and Statistics in the Operations and Information Management Group at Aston Business School, UK.

Preface 7
Acknowledgements 9
Contents 11
1 Introduction to Simulation 15
Introduction 15
What is Simulation Modelling? 15
Simulation and Variability 16
Why Use Simulation? 18
Disadvantages of the Simulation Method 19
Summary 20
References 20
2 The Usage of Simulation 21
Introduction 21
Published Surveys of the Use of Simulation 21
A Survey of Simulation Use in the UK 23
Where in the Organisation is Simulation Used? 26
Modelling Human Behaviour with Simulation 27
Summary 31
References 32
3 Acquiring the Resources for Simulation 35
Introduction 35
Steps in Introducing Simulation 35
4 Steps in Building a Simulation Model 45
Introduction 45
1. Formulate the Simulation Project Proposal 45
2. Data Collection 53
3. Process Mapping 55
4. Modelling Input Data 56
5. Building the Model 58
6. Validation and Verification 58
7. Experimentation and Analysis 62
8. Presentation of Results 68
9. Implementation 69
Summary 71
References 71
5 Enabling Simulation – Simulation and Process Improvement Methodology 73
Introduction 73
Case Study 1 A Redesign of a Road Traffic Accident Reporting System Using Business Process Simulation 75
Case Study 2 Using Business Process Simulation Within a Business Process Reengineering Approach 81
Case Study 3 Process Improvement Within a HR Division at a UK Police Force 89
Summary 97
References 99
6 Enabling Simulation – Qualitative Simulation 103
Introduction 103
Case Study 4 Using Simulation Modelling to Assess Service Reliability 103
Case Study 5 The Case for the Organisational Use of Simulation 111
Case Study 6 Using Simulation for Facility Design 120
Summary 129
References 130
7 Enabling Simulation – Simulation and OR Techniques 133
Case Study 7 A Simulation Analysis of Arrest Costs 135
Case Study 8 Using System Dynamics in a Discrete-event Simulation Study 144
Case Study 9 The Use of Data Envelopment Analysis in a Discrete- event Simulation Study 155
Summary 159
References 160
Index 165