Johannes Gutenberg-University of Mainz Chair for Vocational Education and Training Professor Dr....

Johannes Gutenberg-University of Mainz

Chair for Vocational Education and TrainingProfessor Dr. Klaus Breuer

Speaker: René Molkenthin

Thesis Projects on a Platform for

Business Simulation Models

28. September 2003René Molkenthin

Introduction

• Business simulations are complex software programs that mimic the behaviour of enterprises and organisations

• Development of business simulations at the University of Mainz with the Norwegian software „Powersim Studio“

• Project for HiA-students: development of a web-based platform for business simulation models in cooperation with Grimstad using current Microsoft technology like .NET and C# or simiiar

programming an interface between a database, existing simulation models and a web-based GUI


Issues

Description of the Project

Use of Business Simulations

webSYDUS

Platform for Business Simulation Models

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Database serverMSSQL 2000

Webserver IIS 5.1.Net Framework

SYDUS(model)

PowersimSDK

ASP.NetC#

technical concept of web-based simulations

Recording of • Decisions and • Values of Reporting

variables• Activities of the

learners

• PS SDK allows the access of the model

• COM-Objekt• Powersim SDK has to be installed

on the webserver

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Illustrating the interfaces


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Result of projects

targets of the project(s)

• platform for administrating and simulation Powersim models over the internet

• prefabricated components for creating a GUI for different simulations

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Properties of the Project

• No knowledge about Powersim Studio required

• Working with current Microsoft technology

• Working in the context of business simulations can be useful for further Master of Science studies in Grimstad (IKT, Ind Øk)

• Relevant to the System Dynamics courses of Professor Gonzalez for M.Sci. students

• Relevant for ongoing research program in information security

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benefits of joining the project(s)

• Cooperation with the Johannes Gutenberg-University of Mainz/Germany

• International University

• Stay for at least three months in Mainz

• Getting in touch with the German Culture


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benefits of joining the project(s)

• Working language is English… but opportunity to learn German

• Free courses for Socrates students

• Financed by a Socrates program

• Cheap travelling (Ryan Air: Oslo Torp – Frankfurt)


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Issues

Description of the Project


webSYDUS


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What are business simulations?

• Business simulations can represent a market with several enterprises in a simulation model

• Training decision making without any risks• Seeing the consequences of decisions quicker

than in reality

• Growing market for business simulations• Consulting companies like McKinsey or

Accenture make use of business simulations for strategic planning and management education

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The Structure of Business Simulation Models

The business simulation „SYDUS“ is modelled as follows:

market

enterprise 1

enterprise 2 enterprise 3

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Using a Business Simulation in Education

• Each enterprise is composed of several activities

• The learner can choose one activity and make decisions and see their effects

• The learner can play the simulation alone or in a team– against the computer or– against other teams

• The learners choose their strategy to control the enterprise

• The teacher can face the learners with a scenario, e. g. a market break down

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Why „webSYDUS“?

Shortcomings of SYDUS

• Use of SYDUS in schools means a lot of administrative effort

• E.g. installation of Powersim on every computer

• Recording of behaviour of the learner is hardly possible

Development of a web-based version of SYDUS (webSYDUS)

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Issues



webSYDUS


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functions specific to the activities

general structure of webSYDUS

different sectionse.g. simulation andusermanagement

links to the different activities

functions to control the current simulation

some information about the user and

the simulation

functions referring to the simulation e. g. the comparison

of classification numbers3


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structure of an activity in sd-notation

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reports of an activity

Reports as• tables• diagrams

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Making decisions

automatic

concrete values

reasons for decisions

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Issues



webSYDUS


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need of a platform for business simulation models

Two reasons for a platform

• Using business simulation models in a more user friendly approach

more than one business simulation model more users / learners: schools and university

• diagnosis of behaviour of the learners within a business simulation

web-based platform for business simulation models

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Functionality of a business model platform

Platform should support the following aspects:

1. Uploading and configuring a Powersim model

2. Creating simulations based on a model

3. Using the simulation in a learning environment

4. Supporting communication and cooperation between learners

5. Recording the activities of the users / learners

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1. Uploading and configuring a Powersim model

• Describing the model in a database, e. g.– which activities are modelled– assign and classifying variables

• Declaring scenarios and strategies that can be choosen in a simulation

• Configuring reporting tools relating to the different strategies

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2. Creating simulations based on a model

• Selecting whether – the user plays the simulation by his own or– in a team with and against others

• Setting the access rights of a simulation

• Configuring the time-control

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3. Using the simulation in a learning environment

• functions for supporting – informing– reporting and – decision making

4. Supporting communication and cooperation between learners

• coordination the strategy within a team4


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Projects

Three programming challenges

• Developing a web-based platform to administrate Powersim Models for web-based simulations including a user-management which records every activity of the learners

• Developing components for creating a GUI based on the data from a databaseserver

• Including a system for supporting communication and cooperation between users

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Projects

Questions in any respect?

[email protected]

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Johannes Gutenberg-University of Mainz Chair for Vocational Education and Training Professor Dr....

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