Building a Business Case for Modeling and Simulation
Abstract
Modeling and simulation technology is the use of models to develop data as a basis for making managerial or technical decisions. It can be a valuable tool for program managers, but it is one that is vastly under-used. This article provides a business-case framework (a methodology to evaluate investment opportunities) for program managers within the Department of Defense to use when determining how to apply modeling and simulation in project management. The authors reviewed selected M&S efforts within civilian industry and DoD. They visited several key manufacturing and service industries, which were also wrestling with the same subject -- the assessment of M&S investment. They surveyed a large number of DoD program managers with programs in various stages of the acquisition process. The survey requested general information from the program managers regarding how they made decisions on M&S investments. Additionally, in an effort to maintain balance, they also surveyed several government contractors. They also conducted a literary search to capture the body of knowledge in non-government organizations related to justifying M&S investments. Most program managers justified their M&S investment based on one or more of the following: reducing design cycle time; augmenting or replacing physical tests; helping resolve limitations of funds, assets, or schedules; or providing insight into issues that were impossible or impracticable to examine in other ways.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jan 01, 2000
- Accession Number
- ADA487789
Entities
People
- Charles Brown
- Donald Kotchman
- Gordon Grant
- Robert Reyenga
- Terence Szanto