Use simulation as a non-threatening alternative to direct experimentation when testing office reorganizations¶

Strategy · All strategies
Evidence · no claims cited

Description¶

The report recommends that a manager facing congestion or budget pressure run the simulation rather than experiment on the live office. In the demonstration, the manager "chooses simulationas a non-threatening alternative to direct experimentation," first determining input parameter values describing his office configuration, then running the simulation and verifying it adequately represents his office's behavior before locating bottlenecks and testing remedies. This procedure lets alternative staff allocations be compared without risking worse real-world service.

Design Implications¶

Context¶

Requirements¶

• Values of the simulation input parameters describing the office configuration must first be determined
• The first simulation run must be verified to adequately represent actual office behavior

Constraints¶

• Accuracy of the simulation is limited by the accuracy of the technique used to estimate its input parameters

Target Learners¶

• Employment Service local office managers

Target Learning Goals¶

• Making informed resource-allocation and staffing decisions

Affordances¶

• Descriptive Simulation Modeling Framework Es Office

Related Strategies¶

• Match the input-parameter estimation method (managerial estimates vs. time study) to the accuracy the simulation purpose requires

Examples¶

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Key Sources¶

• Cohen, Malcolm S. (1975). A Study of On-Line Use of Job Information in Employment Service Local Offices. Volume II: A Simulation Study. https://eric.ed.gov/?id=ED115779