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Deborah A. Sadowski ,Mark R. Grabau
8 ]8 v6 \( P$ S% X$ mThere's a common misconception that performing a simulation study involves a sequence of steps (e.g., project definition, model formulation, verification, validation, analysis). To the contrary, all elements of a simulation project should be performed repeatedly throughout the effort, 7 J3 a6 g9 v ~* \! l. ~9 r1 f: r
growing in scope as the model progresses. ]( A: ]. g O2 t
In the traditional view, projects suffer from too strong a focus on the model (and perhaps the animation), so that after the inevitable delays and problems, there's no time left to run scenarios. Instead, the analyst is faced with a presentation deadline that's firm and little time to experi-1 e1 \. q/ X4 M6 r1 _& }
ment, analyze, or think. " j2 u0 L. k1 O) `
Instead, you should schedule the project in complete phases. Intermediate milestones, spaced no more than about two weeks apart in a medium to large project, should include specific goals for the model, animation, data, and analysis. By the time you reach the last 25% of your time on the project, you should have addressed the basic analysis issues of run length, warm-up time, etc. and should already have performed preliminary analysis on the model for a number of different scenarios. |
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