An object oriented approach towards the specification of simulation models

To manage problems, is to try and cope with a flux of interacting events and ideas which unrolls through time - with the manager trying to improve situations seen as problematical, or at least as less than perfect. The ability of managing or solving these problems depends on the skills of the problem solver to analyse problems. This article introduces and discusses a proposed methodology for analysing real world problems in order to construct valid simulation models.Bestuurders probeer probleemsituasies bestuur, of verbeter deur 'n vloed van dinamiese interaktiewe gebeurtenisses te verstaan en te hanteer. Die sukses van die bestuur of oplos van die probleme hang af van die kundigheid van die probleemoplosser om die probleme te kan analiseer. Die artikel bespreek 'n voorgestelde benadering tot die analise van probleme om sodoende daaruit, simulasiemodelle te kan opstel.http://sajie.journals.ac.z

The design of a simulation generator

Successful simulation studies depend on a variety of expertise such as statistics, computer programming, systems analysis and design techniques. Unfortunately these requirements limit the availability of competent simulation analysts, while simulation applications are in demand. This paper presents a possible solution to the shortage of expert simulation knowledge through the design of a simulation generator, a software tool that translates conceptual simulation models into computer code. The design process for the expert system and simulation components of the simulation generator uses an adapted software lifecycle methodology.Suksesvolle simulasiestudies hang van verskeie kundigheidsonderwerpe af, soos byvoorbeeld statistiek, programmering, stelselanalise en ontwerptegnieke. Die vereistes beperk die beskikbaarheid van geskikte simulasiekundiges, ten spyte dat simulasietoepassings in aanvraag is. Die artikel bied ''n moontlike oplossing aan vir die tekort aan simulasiekundigheid, deur die ontwikkelling van simulasiegenerators te bespreek, wat rekenaarprogrammatuur is wat konseptuele simulasiemodelle in rekenaarkode omskryf. Die ontwerp van die simulasiegenerator se ekspertstelsel- en simulasiekomponent is gebaseer op 'n aangepaste rekenaarprogrammatuurlewenssiklus metodologie.http://sajie.journals.ac.z

Can complexity analysis support business performance insight?

Most people intuitively understand complexity, but being able to analyse it scientifically is not a common practice. For business executives, ‘complexity’ must be one of the most important concepts to understand, as it directly impacts business performance. From a business improvement perspective it is critical to quantify complexity, as engineering optimisation models require some level of clarity and understanding for decision making. Excess complexity prevents a proper understanding of the business system, which makes accurate forecasting impossible, and so increases the risk of failure. This paper uses Shannon’s entropy to measure and gain insight into complexity, and shows how it can be used to gain better insight into the performance of a business system – especially when dealing with non-linear relationships between business components.Alhoewel die meeste mense kompleksiteit verstaan, is die ontleding daarvan op ’n wetenskaplike manier nie algemene praktyk nie. Vir die uitvoerende direkteure van maatskappye is ‘kompleksiteit’ een van die belangrikste faktore omrede dit die prestasie van die onderneming direk beïnvloed. Gesien vanuit die perspektief van besigheidsoptimisering, raak dit krities dat kompleksiteit kwantitatief uitgedruk moet word sodat die nodige ingenieursmodelle ingespan kan word vir besluitnemingsdoeleindes. Indien die besigheidstelsel te veel kompleksiteit ervaar, maak dit die verstaan van die stelsel onnodig moeilik, wat op sy beurt weer veroorsaak dat voorspellingsmodelle onbruikbaar raak. Dit verhoog die kans op mislukking van die onderneming. In hierdie artikel word ‘Shannon’s entropy’ gebruik om kompleksiteit te meet om sodoende beter insig in besigheidsprestasie te verkry – veral wanneer daar nie-lineêre verwantskappe bestaan tussen die verskillende komponente.This article is an extended version of a paper presented at the 2011 ISEM conference.http://www.journals.co.za/ej/ejour_indeng.htm

Business Process Management Education in Academia: Status, challenges, and Recommendations

In response to the growing proliferation of Business Process Management (BPM) in industry and the demand this creates for BPM expertise, universities across the globe are at various stages of incorporating knowledge and skills in their teaching offerings. However, there are still only a handful of institutions that offer specialized education in BPM in a systematic and in-depth manner. This article is based on a global educators’ panel discussion held at the 2009 European Conference on Information Systems in Verona, Italy. The article presents the BPM programs of five universities from Australia, Europe, Africa, and North America, describing the BPM content covered, program and course structures, and challenges and lessons learned. The article also provides a comparative content analysis of BPM education programs illustrating a heterogeneous view of BPM. The examples presented demonstrate how different courses and programs can be developed to meet the educational goals of a university department, program, or school. This article contributes insights on how best to continuously sustain and reshape BPM education to ensure it remains dynamic, responsive, and sustainable in light of the evolving and ever-changing marketplace demands for BPM expertise

The open solution methodology approach to problem solving

The Open Solution Methodology is a generic problem solving methodology which is used to solve system related problems through the application of problem solving techniques. The focus of the application of this methodology is aimed at modelling organisations, or areas within organisations. The application ofthe Open Solution Methodology provides the benefit of having the ability to comprehend and integrate all aspects of the system, while having a formal and structured approach for problem solving. Together with the reduction in system analysis time, problem solving techniques such as simulation modelling are focused through the Open Solution Methodology models to enhance the quality Ofsolutions.Die "Open Solution Methodology" is 'n generiese probleemoplossingsmetodologie wat gebruik word om stelselverwante probleme op te los deur die toepassing van problemoplossingstegnieke. Die fokus van hierdie metodologie toepassing is gernik op die modellering van organisasies, of gedeeltes van organisasies. Die "Open Solution Methodology" toepassing verskaf die voordeel om aile aspekte van die stelsel te verstaan en te integreer, terwyl daarvan 'n formele en gestruktureerde benadering tot probleemoplossing gebruik gemaak word. Tesame met die gepaardgaande verkorting van stelselanalisetyd, word die "Open Solution Methodology" modelle gebruik om die toepassing van probleemoplossingstegnieke te fokus omsodoende kwaliteit van die oplossings te verhoog

Business Process Management Education in Academia: Status, Challenges, and Recommendations

In response to the growing proliferation of Business Process Management (BPM) in industry and the demand this creates for BPM expertise, universities across the globe are at various stages of incorporating knowledge and skills in their teaching offerings. However, there are still only a handful of institutions that offer specialized education in BPM in a systematic and in-depth manner. This article is based on a global educators’ panel discussion held at the 2009 European Conference on Information Systems in Verona, Italy. The article presents the BPM programs of five universities from Australia, Europe, Africa, and North America, describing the BPM content covered, program and course structures, and challenges and lessons learned. The article also provides a comparative content analysis of BPM education programs illustrating a heterogeneous view of BPM. The examples presented demonstrate how different courses and programs can be developed to meet the educational goals of a university department, program, or school. This article contributes insights on how best to continuously sustain and reshape BPM education to ensure it remains dynamic, responsive, and sustainable in light of the evolving and ever-changing marketplace demands for BPM expertise

The design of a simulation generator

<p>ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Successful simulation studies depend on a variety of expertise such as statistics, computer programming, systems analysis and design techniques. Unfortunately these requirements limit the availability of competent simulation analysts, while simulation applications are in demand. This paper presents a possible solution to the shortage of expert simulation knowledge through the design of a simulation generator, a software tool that translates conceptual simulation models into computer code. The design process for the expert system and simulation components of the simulation generator uses an adapted software lifecycle methodology.</p><p>AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: 'Suksesvolle simulasiestudies hang van verskeie kundigheidsonderwerpe af, soos byvoorbeeld statistiek, programmering, stelselanalise en ontwerptegnieke. Die vereistes beperk die beskikbaarheid van geskikte simulasiekundiges , ten spyte dat simulasietoepassings in aanvraag is. Die artikel bied '0 moontlike oplossing aan vir die tekort aan simulasiekundigheid, deur die ontwikkelling van simulasiegenerators te bespreek, wat rekenaarprogrammatuur is wat konseptuele simulasiemodelle in rekenaarkode omskryf. Die ontwerp van die simulasiegenerato r se ekspertstelsel- en simulasiekomponent is gebaseer op ' n aangepaste rekenaarprogrammatuurlewenssiklus metodologie.</p&gt

AN OBJECT ORIENTED APPROACH TOWARDS THE SPECIFICATION OF SIMULATION MODELS

<p>ENGLISH ABSTRACT: To manage problems , is to try and cope with a flux of interacting events and ideas which unrolls through time - with the manager trying to improve situations seen as problematical, or at least as less than perfect. The ability of managing or solving these problems depends on the skills of the problem solver to analyse problems. This article introduces and discusses a proposed methodology for analysing real world problems in order to construct valid simulation models.</p><p>AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Bestuurders probeer probleemsituasies bestuur, of verbeter deur 'n vloed van dinamiese interaktiewe gebeurtenisses te verstaan en te hanteer. Die sukses van die bestuur of oplos .van die probleme hang af van die kundigheid van die probleemoplosser om die probleme te kan analiseer. Die artikel bespreek 'n voorgestelde benadering tot die analise van probleme am sodoende daaruit , simulasiemodelle te kan opstel.</p&gt

Supporting business process design through a business fractal approach

CITATION: Van Rensburg, A. 2014. Supporting business process design through a business fractal approach. South African Journal of Industrial Engineering, 25(1):50-61, doi:10.7166/25-1-679.The original publication is available at http://sajie.journals.ac.zaThe role and position of business process management in an organisation depends on the value it contributes to the organisation’s sustainability. Business process design ensures that the conceptual business process strategy is translated into appropriate user requirements and functional requirements, and is ultimately implemented through some kind of enabling mechanism. In reality, business process design proves, at best, to be difficult when capturing and translating the complexity of business systems. In this paper, the concept of a business fractal is introduced to demonstrate an alternative way of doing business process design.Die rol en posisie van besigheidsprosesbestuur hang af van die waardetoevoeging van besigheidsprosesbestuur tot die uitvoerbaarheid van die organisasie. Dit is in die belang van die ontwerp van die besigheidsproses dat die besigheidstrategie omskryf word in die gebruikersbehoeftestellings en funksionelestellings, en geïmplementeer word in die fisiese uitvoering van die besigheidsproses, hetsy deur ’n rekenaarstelsel of deur besigheidsprosedures. Dit is egter in realiteit baie moeilik om strategie af te wentel na implementeringsprosedures as gevolg van die kompleksiteit van besigheidsprosesse. In hierdie artikel word die konsep van ’n besigheidsfraktaal bekend gestel as ’n alternatiewe manier om besigheidsproses ontwerp te doen.http://sajie.journals.ac.za/pub/article/view/679Publisher's versio

What leadership principles can we learn from commodity trading?

This document focuses on business development, defining in particular a number of key principles for leading a business through business cycles in the market place.3 page