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Deborah A. Sadowski ,Mark R. Grabau3 ]9 ~ X. M+ n
There'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, 9 \3 S, j) c: Q1 D9 \6 h4 @
growing in scope as the model progresses. 0 K5 }) E/ H. l2 e$ h
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-- e/ _4 o1 ~3 r/ W5 u" z0 V ?) F. a) f
ment, analyze, or think. # U3 _; M. ~- K% X: F* V, z8 ~
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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