Use of Simulation Administration to Achieve Pedagogical Objectives

Abstract

This paper describes the administration of a production simulation in a graduate introductory production/operations management course that encourages the design and use of efficient decision systems. Student teams are required to make the 48 simulation decisions each week. A set of auxiliary computer programs customized for use with simulation data is available for use by the teams to help in their development of these decisions. The students are charged in simulation money for the use of these programs. Since the grade on this exercise is determined by the team’s cost performance, this administrative technique encourages the students to make efficient use of the information in their decision system.