Announcing a new software for supply chain dynamics ...

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John Sterman
Senior Member
Posts: 117
Joined: Fri Mar 29, 2002 3:39 am

Announcing a new software for supply chain dynamics ...

Post by John Sterman »

Folks,

The following message from Ravi Anupindi at Kellogg (Northwestern)
describes a new web-based Beer Game and their experience with it in the MBA
core operations management class there. Its a promising alternative to
the board game for those with access to the internet.

John Sterman
From: John Sterman <jsterman@MIT.EDU>


>Mime-Version: 1.0
>Date: Tue, 25 May 1999 17:16:21 -0500 (CDT)
>To: anupindi@kaizen.kellogg.nwu.edu
>From: anupindi@kaizen.kellogg.nwu.edu (Ravi Anupindi)
>Subject: Announcing a new software for supply chain dynamics ...
>
>Dear Colleague:
>
>This is to announce the release of "BeerNET: A Remote Group Software
>for the Study of Supply Chain Dynamics". BeerNET is a joint project
>with Yehuda Bassok (University of Washington, Seattle) and Eitan Zemel
>(New York University, NY) to develop an experimental platform for
>teaching and research in Supply Chain Management. As a first step, we
>have developed an Internet version of the well-known Beer Distribution
>Game (originally developed at MIT). The software can be used to play
>the multi-person game using the Internet. The game is implemented as a
>Client-Server architecture using the programming language Java. Each
>client plays the role of one station in the classical Beer
>Game. Details are available from the BeerNET Homepage at
>
> http://www.kellogg.nwu.edu/faculty/anup ... erNET.html
>
>You may download the (Windows) client software and a user manual at
>the above site.
>
>Large Scale Test Run at Kellogg
>-------------------------------
>
>This quarter we experimented with BeerNET in the core MBA class
>at Kellogg. A total of approximately 400 students played this game
>across 2 days. The section sizes varied from 45-70 students. Students
>brought their laptops to wired classrooms. They were divided into
>teams of 8 with two students teaming up to play one role in the Beer
>Game on one laptop (a team of two per station was selected to minimize
>confusion and increase flexibility in formation of teams for
>games). The students were asked to download and install the client
>software before they came to class. In class, each client (laptop)
>plays one role in a game. We had setup multiple games on the
>server. Roles and games were assigned randomly so students would not
>know who their suppliers were (this was done to minimize communication
>between stations; clearly alternative arrangements are possible). We
>are glad to announce that the entire operation went off smoothly.
>
>Advantages
>----------
>
>Unlike the board game, BeerNET is much cleaner and faster to
>execute. Also unlike any other stand alone computerized Beer Game, the
>excitement / confusion of the physical version of the game persists in
>the classroom. Several other advantages of the internet version
>include, location independence (as long as a player has access to the
>internet, he/she can play the game with other players in any part of
>the world) and infinite customizability (the games can be customized
>along various dimensions - lead times, prices, information structure,
>etc.); also see below for features to be added.
>
>Additional Features Coming Soon
>-------------------------------
>
>The present game mimics the classical beer game. It is a cost
>minimization game with delay and cost parameters that can be
>customized individually for each game and each stage within a game.
>
>Shortly (next few weeks), the following features will be added:
>
> * Profit Maximization game - will allow an instructor (using
> the server) to set transfer prices.
>
> * Information Sharing - Selectively allow information sharing
> regarding demand and/or inventory data between any sets of
> players.
>
> * Ultimate Goal is to expand the software to develop a
> platform to study dynamics of supply networks (as opposed to
> simple linear supply chains).
>
>
>Should you have any comments/questions/clarifications, please
>email/call me.
>
>Best Regards,
>Ravi.
>
>==================================================================
>
> Ravi Anupindi, Assistant Professor of Operations Management
> Managerial Economics and Decision Sciences (MEDS) Department
> J.L. Kellogg Graduate School of Management
> Northwestern University, Evanston, IL 60208
>
> Tel: (847) 491-8681; Fax: (847) 467-1220; Email: r-anupindi@nwu.edu
> Web Page: "http://www.kellogg.nwu.edu/faculty/anupindi/htm
avi.html"
>
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