Broadband in rural and remote areas: the impact of Scottish policy initiatives

The ability to participate in the Internet-based economy that is emerging requires access to broadband. However, in many countries, 'digital divides' occur, with those in geographically remote and rural areas being particularly disadvantaged. Through focusing on rural and remote Scotland, the paper identifies three different categories of policy initiatives that have been adopted and their interaction with broader UK and industry wide developments. Whilst these initiatives have encouraged the adoption of broadband, it is argued that UK initiatives are creating a new series of challenges to the adoption of broadband

The dynamics of academic entrepreneurship : connecting universities and the ecosystem

To advance the field of academic entrepreneurship, the system, university and individual level can no longer be treated separately but need to be described and understood as an ecosystem in order to identify drivers and understand the dynamics. This conceptual paper proposes a framework based on feedback thinking, aggregation and complex adaptive systems that connects the university’s and the business’ perspective. A hybrid model with an integrated system dynamics (SD) / agent-based modelling (ABM) approach will then be proposed to operationalise the framework, in which universities are represented as SD modules that shape the environment for the established companies and start-ups, represented as a set of agents. The SD feedback structure acknowledges and reflects the consequences of entrepreneurial activities for and the influence of the ecosystem on the university. First, this framework advances our understanding of ecosystems by formulating a theoretical foundation for an ecosystem model that is capable of representing the interactions between its components. Furthermore, it will allow for the examination of dynamic interplays between universities and their ecosystem. The insights from this model have far-reaching implications for universities, intermediate organisations and policy makers at national and regional levels. Further research trajectories are outlined

A toolkit of designs for mixing discrete event simulation and system dynamics

In recent years there has been significant interest in multimethodology and the mixing of OR/MS methods, including Discrete Event Simulation (DES) with System Dynamics (SD). Several examples of mixing DES and SD are described in the literature but there is no overarching framework which characterises the spectrum of options available to modellers. This paper draws on a sample of published case studies, in conjunction with the theoretical literature on mixing methods, to propose a toolkit of designs for mixing DES and SD which can be implemented as a set of questions which a modeller should ask in order to guide the choice of design and inform the associated project methodology. The impetus for this work was the perceived need to transfer insight from reported practice in order to formalise how the two methods can be and have been mixed

Knowledge Acquisition Using Group Support Systems

This paper reports on a project in which a group support system (GSS) equipped with a causal mapping facility was used to acquire knowledge from experts in seven European cities in order to understand the systemicity of risks which cities may face. The practical constraints demanded that participants’ experience and wisdom about the city risk environment was collected in a short period of time: three 1-day workshops. The acquisition of knowledge posed a number of important epistemological challenges which are explored in our discussion. The GSS was faced with the need to (1) facilitate sharing of knowledge with others, (2) manage the complexity of expert knowledge, (3) acknowledge the time demands on experts, (4) manage and merge multiple perspectives, and (5) acknowledge the subjectivity of knowledge in this domain. By discussing how the GSS process attended directly to these epistemological issues and to methodological considerations that linked to these issues, the paper contributes to a better understanding of the application of GSS for knowledge acquisition, particularly in comparison with other possible methods

Lessons from mixing OR methods in practice : using DES and SD to explore a radiotherapy treatment planning process

Mixing Operational Research (OR) methods is becoming more commonplace. Discrete-Event Simulation (DES) and System Dynamics (SD) are popular modelling methods previously applied to a range of situations for various purposes, which are starting to be mixed in healthcare. However, the practicalities of mixing DES and SD in practice remain unclear. Radiotherapy treatment is a complex multi-stage process where technology and best practice continue to evolve. This paper describes a project undertaken to explore the treatment planning process using mixed OR methods. It presents insights obtained through mixing OR methods within a real world project. The model development process, the role of each modelling method, and the benefits of undertaking a mixed OR methods project design are described. Lessons for mixing DES and SD, and more generally mixing OR methods, are discussed

Critical learning incidents in system dynamics modelling engagements

This paper reports in-depth behavioural operational research to explore how individual clients learned to resolve dynamically complex problems in system dynamics model-based engagements. Consultant-client dyads were interviewed in ten system dynamics consulting engagements to identify individual clients' Critical Learning Incidents—defined as the moment of surprise caused after one's mental model produces unexpected failure and a change in one’s mental model produces the desired result. The cases are reprised from interviews and include assessments of the nature of the engagement problem, the form of system dynamics model, and the methods employed by consultants during each phase of the engagement. Reported Critical Learning Incidents are noted by engagement phase and consulting method, and constructivist learning theory is used to describe a pattern of learning. Outcomes of the research include describing the role of different methods applied in engagement phases (for example, the role of concept models to commence problem identification and to introduce iconography and jargon to the engagement participants), how model form associates with timings of Critical Learning Incidents, and the role of social mediation and negotiation in the learning process

Challenges of infection prevention and control in Scottish long-term care facilities

Residents living in long-term care facilities (LTCFs) are at high risk of contracting healthcare-associated infections (HAIs). The unique operational and cultural characteristics of LTCFs and the currently evolving models of healthcare delivery in Scotland create great challenges for infection prevention and control (IPC). Existing literature that discusses the challenges of infection control in LTCFs focuses on operational factors within a facility and does not explore the challenges associated with higher levels of management and the lack of evidence to support IPC practices in this setting. 1-7 Here, we provide a broader view of challenges faced by LTCFs in the context of the current health and social care models in Scotland. Many of these challenges are also faced in the rest of the United Kingdom and internationally

Combining system dynamics and agent-based models to study transmission of healthcare-associated infections in long-term care facilities

Transmission of healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) in long-term care facilities (LTCFs) possesses many distinct characteristics that are not well understood. While HAIs are primarily disseminated via contacts between healthcare workers and patients in hospitals, patient-patient and patient-visitor contacts play an important role in spreading HAIs in LTCFs. The increased risk of transmission through these routes results from frequent aggregation of residents in common areas and family visitation. Additionally, the elderly population living in LTCFs who are frequently readmitted to a hospital might acquire colonization or infection of resistant organisms while being hospitalised and transmit these organisms to other residents when returning to the LTCF and vice versa. Systems simulation modelling methods including system dynamics (SD), discreteevent simulation and agent-based models (ABM) have long been used to study the problems of HAIs in hospitals. However, the existing models do not capture the impacts of patient-patient and patient-visitor contacts and frequent hospital readmission of residents upon transmission of HAIs in LTCFs. Therefore, we develop a hybrid simulation model that combines the methodological strengths of SD and ABM to address this gap. ABM is used to model the transmission of HAIs in LTCFs taking into account heterogeneous contacts between individuals. The spread of HAIs in a hospital whose patients are transferred to and from the LTCF is modelled using SD. Information exchange between the SD and ABM components includes data on the number of patients transferred from one setting to the other, and their status of infection

Experiences of mixed method OR Practitioners : moving beyond a technical focus to insights relating to modelling teams

Complex, real-world problems often benefit from being tackled using multiple OR methods. The ability to combine methods successfully therefore plays a key role in successful OR practice. The research described in this paper aims to augment current understanding of mixed methods modelling, moving beyond the predominant focus on technical aspects of which methods to use and how they can be combined. As such the research sought to explore the practice of mixed methods from the perspective of those with mixed methods experience to reflect on all aspects of a modelling intervention and identify generic lessons. The research involved a series of in-depth interviews with experienced OR practitioners (both academic and non-academic) to understand how they undertake mixed methods work. The paper describes the research methodology employed, the emergent data and the results of the analysis. The analysis reveals that an area of significance hitherto only peripherally addressed was consideration of the modelling team particularly a) additional skills, b) organisational culture and modeller personality and c) the role of the team leader. The paper concludes with some avenues for further exploration regarding teaching, research, and the practice of OR mixed methods work

Enhancing the theoretical framework behind the integration of system dynamics and agent based modelling for use in pharmaceutical systems

A novel view for an integrative SD and AB modelling framework for use in pharmaceutical systems is proposed. This is centred around the key concepts of resources, agents and information imperfection and is supported by the theoretical perspectives of resource-dependence theory and resource based view, behavioural decision theory, information economics theory and anticipatory systems theory. Each of the above theoretical perspectives provides different knowledge and explanations of socio-economic phenomena and integrating them provides a more holistic view for critically exploring and interpreting market resource and agent interrelated behaviour. Conceptualizing the pharmaceutical market as an anticipatory adaptive socio-economic system emerging out of agents heuristic rules and forward-looking behaviour, competing for limited resources within an informationally imperfect market environment, would further complement the general systems and complex adaptive systems theoretical frameworks underpinning the practical integration of SD and AB modelling approaches. The proposed theoretical framework will be illustrated in the context of the External Reference Pricing regulation on the pharmaceutical market in EU. The analysis focuses on the relevant market agents and market resources involved, the main information imperfections and related phenomena that could lead to market imperfections and market failure from the public healthcare perspective of providing equitable and timely access to affordable medicinal products The resource/agent/information integrated framework proposed here contributes to the ongoing efforts of the modelling and simulation community to develop an enhanced epistemological paradigm in support of the integration of SD and AB methodological approaches. Another practical contribution is to the call of the European Council for a systemic evaluation of the pharmaceutical regulation in EU and associated pharmaceutical market system effects