REPLY Discrete event software (SD6710)

[SDMAIL Jim Thompson]

Posted by  "Jim Thompson" <james.thompson at strath.ac.uk>

Bill,

Have a look at the Strathclyde management science Web site and
http://www.dmem.strath.ac.uk/~pball/simulation/simulate.html.  It's not
precisely what you asked but it may kick start your search.  Strathclyde has
extensive discrete event experience, and the management science faculty
could help direct your search.

Michael Pidd's books, 'Computer Simulation in Management Science' and 'Tools
for Thinking: Modelling in Management Science', are handy reference works.

SD simulation techniques are aimed at the sort of problems to be solved:
system design and management policy.  Discrete event simulation is aimed to
understand the detail complexity of a system's dynamics.  So if the problem
is policy design (say, allocation of resources) traditional SD simulation is
efficient.  If the problem is policy implementation (say, the budgeting
process) discrete event simulation is efficient.

I expect you will get several responses with a philosophical bent and
apologize in advance for this one.

Jim Thompson
Posted by  "Jim Thompson" <james.thompson at strath.ac.uk>
posting date  Sat, 5 Jan 2008 10:09:50 -0500