Ventana software support forum

Posted: **Sun Feb 09, 2003 12:44 pm**

Sheila,

Forio Business simulations provides software to create and
distribute web simulations and helps other organizations
sell and distribute their simulations on the web. Weve
created web simulations where users make decisions on
finance, sales, and manufacturing (among other topics) and
even compete against other simulated companies (controlled
by other users) for market share.

You can run some of the simulations that we and other
developers have created using our software at:
http://broadcast.forio.com/sims

More about the software used to create these simulations is
available at:
http://www.forio.com/broadcastoverview.htm

There are also more elaborate examples that we have created
for specific customers. Feel free to call or email me if you
would like to discuss this further.

Michael
_______________________________________
Forio Business Simulations

Michael Bean
(415) 440-7500 phone
(415) 425-3701 mobile
mbean@forio.com
www.forio.com

Posted: **Sun Feb 09, 2003 8:47 pm**

Sheila,

You will probably get URLs from numerous others so I will focus on just one
issue. It is usually best to define the problem before generating a
solution. Although it would be possible and a fun (and impressive) mountain
to climb, having different machines for different aspects of a business is
not necessary.

Even if you want multiple players this can be done with a minimum of
machinery.

Ray
From: "Ray on EV1" <rtjoseph@ev1.net>

Posted: **Mon Feb 10, 2003 6:51 am**

Rod Brown wrote:

> System Dynamics can be wielded more effectively when it is used to
> reduce the complex to the understandable rather than to recreate a
> complete facsimile, at least from the teaching point of view.

"What he (and Ray) said!"

Ive found for me that I can get into "playing the game" rather
mindlessly, and it takes a fair amount of discipline on my part (aided,
perhaps, by a fair amount of work on the part of the modeler) to really
learn from them. "Calling ones shots" in advance, running the
simulation, making the comparisons, and working through the reasons for
the difference seem key. If the model is too complex, then it will be
hard to see the reason the model worked as it did.

I might even suggest that the effects of feedback are pervasive enough
that it is hard -- not impossible -- for most who havent wrestled with
it to catch on well. It was helpful for me to have had to wrestle with
feedback in the design and debug of innumberable electronic circuits,
where the laws of nature and the requirements of the job demanded that I
work through the issues quickly and correctly.

Bill
From: Bill Harris <bill_harris@facilitatedsystems.com>
--
Bill Harris 3217 102nd Place SE
Facilitated Systems Everett, WA 98208 USA
http://facilitatedsystems.com/ phone: +1 425 337-5541

Posted: **Tue Apr 08, 2003 3:48 pm**

Im doing some research ...

Computer based simulations have long been used by pilots in flight
simulators, but the extension of this concept to other areas has been
constrained by prohibitive costs. On terms of providing experiential
learning there can be no better form of delivery than through simulations.
For example: most business processes have now been computerised and
developed for use on a web browser or Internet/Intranet: anyone operating a
system therefore does so through a computer interface. This operator can now
no longer distinguish where the information comes from, and consequently
would now not be able to tell whether the information was real or simulated.

It is only a small jump from here to a virtual company. In a simple set up
only four computers would be needed: one for finance, sales, manufacturing,
and one controlling the server. Speculating further it would be possible to
have a "University of Experience" - where a virtual International
organisation could be set up with participating students. My research is
based on establishing what exists within the current provision of Business
Simulations, and how advanced relative to the above concept providers are.

Do you know of any web sites worth looking at with this kind of business
simulation? Know of any demos? Anyone I should speak to? I hope to have
this project complete by the end of February.

Best regards,

Sheila Browning
From: "Sheila Browning, Icaem Insight" <insight@icaem.co.uk>

SoL Scotland Coordinator

#############################

Managing Director

Icaem Insight Ltd

Tel: 0 (44) 1383 823018

Fax: 0 (44) 1383 822490

Mobile: 0 (44) 7940 520 430

e-mail: insight@icaem.co.uk

Posted: **Thu Apr 10, 2003 5:17 am**

Sheila Browning asserts: "On terms of providing experiential
learning there can be no better form of delivery than through
simulations."

May be, may be not. It most certainly depends on the simulation as to
whether any learning is delivered. The limited research in this area is
relatively inconclusive (e.g. Langley; Angerhofer) but broadly
favourable to the view. Many people on the list will have classroom
experience of such learning tools and the range of opinion will be
considerable though we might agree that successful learning depends on:
a) the quality of simulation and supporting material and b) the skill of
teacher in integrating a simulation exercise and extracting learning
points from it. By quality, I mean "fitness for purpose".

As for the simulation, it is a commonly held belief that "reality"
simulations, as Sheila Browning is enquiring about, are beneficial. If
by "reality" it is meant the simulated recreation of a whole business -
as I suspect in this case she does - I do not think there is any
pedagogical advantage since the complexity of the real world is merely
replicated and managers learn as well from the simulation as they do
from the real world. Perhaps experience is accelerated a little,
perhaps the class is well entertained, but I suggest that it would be
difficult to claim or demonstrate learning about the operation of
business or whether better decisions will in future be taken, other than
those that enhance performance in the simulation.

System Dynamics can be wielded more effectively when it is used to
reduce the complex to the understandable rather than to recreate a
complete facsimile, at least from the teaching point of view.
Harnessing SD to recreate excerpts or compressions from real business
situations provides material that is probably more effective for
education. Such excerpts must, of course, still operate in reality
"mode". In other words, they must perform for the same reasons as the
real world system performs, as should any SD model. Such excerpts -
shall we call them microworlds, if we include case material? - can
within the time of a class or two lend themselves to interpretation by
the student who can "see" consequences of their decision making rather
than have them smothered in the noise from a larger, more complex - but
no more real - system.

Just because we can recreate complexity, it doesnt always follow that
we should.

Rod.
From: "Rod Brown" <rod@strategydynamics.com>

Roderick Brown
Centre for Strategy Dynamics
Cupola House
15 Alfred Place
LONDON
WC1E 7EB
ENGLAND
Mobile: +44 (0)7980 597 412
Office: +44 (0)207 467 9336

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