COMPUTER SIMULATION

Question 1

answer the question “What if?”

Answer 1

computer simulation

Question 2

answer the question “What is?”

Answer 2

computer simulaton

Question 3

enables studies of more complex systems because it creates observations by “moving forward” into the future

Answer 3

computer simulation

Question 4

involves modeling the organizational system as

a set of entities evolving over time according to the availability of resources and the triggering of events.

Answer 4

Discrete event simulation

Question 5

involves identifying the key “state” variables that define

the behavior of the system, and then relating those variables to one another through coupled, differential equations.

Answer 5

System dynamics

Question 6

involves agents that attempt to maximize their

fitness (utility) functions by interacting with other agents and resources

Answer 6

Agent-based simulation

Question 7

seven purpose of simulation

Answer 7

prediction, performance, training, entertainment, education, proof, theory discovery

Question 8

By comparing different output
obtained via different structures and governing rules, researchers can infer what might
happen in the real situation if such interventions were to occur.

Answer 8

prediction

Question 9

s a substitute for experimentation and intervention on

the actual system.

Answer 9

Simulation for prediction

Question 10

undertaken when such experimentation is too dangerous, costly, untimely, or inconvenient

Answer 10

Simulation for prediction

Question 11

Simulation can uncover phenomena that in turn focus theoretical attention

Answer 11

Theory discovery

Question 12

simulation can be used to perform real tasks for an organization, such as diagnosis or decision-making.

Answer 12

performance

Question 13

A simulation environment makes it quick, easy, and safe for users to make
decisions that mimic the decisions they (will) make in reality.

Answer 13

training

Question 14

three different approaches to simulation

Answer 14

discrete event simulation, system dynamics, ad agent-based simulations

Question 15

are best used when the organizational system
under study can be adequately characterized by variables and corresponding
states, and events occur that change the value of these variable states in some
rule-oriented but stochastic manner.

Answer 15

Discrete event simulation

Question 16

not appropriate

when state variables interact with one another and change on a continuous basis,

Answer 16

Discrete event simulation

Question 17

best fit for situations
where the variables in question are numerous, and can be related to one another in
terms of how their rates of change interact with one another.

Answer 17

System dynamics

Question 18

tend to treat systems rather mechanistically

Answer 18

System dynamics

Question 19

a “top-down” modeling
approach, and thus requires fairly extensive knowledge about how the state
variables of the system interact with one another.

Answer 19

System dynamics

Question 20

best fit for situations when the organizational
system is best modeled as a collection of agents who interpret the world around
themselves and interact with one another via schema

Answer 20

agent-based simulations

Question 21

emphasize change in agents’ schema via learning and adaptation, and also
highlight the phenomena of emergent

Answer 21

agent-based simulations

Question 22

considered “bottom-up” models
in that one describes individual agents and their patterns of connectivity and
interaction

Answer 22

agent-based simulations