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Typical Pitfalls of Simulation Modeling - Lessons Learned from Armed Forces and Business

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Abstract

This paper identifies possible pitfalls of simulation modeling and suggests ways to prevent them. First, we specify five typical pitfalls that are associated with the process of applying simulation models and characterize the "logic of failure" (Dörner 1996) behind the pitfalls. Then, we illustrate important aspects of these pitfalls using examples from applying simulation modeling to military and managerial decision making and present possible solutions to them. Finally, we discuss how our suggestions for avoiding them relate to current methodological discussions found in the social simulation community.

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  • Rolf Barth & Matthias Meyer & Jan Spitzner, 2012. "Typical Pitfalls of Simulation Modeling - Lessons Learned from Armed Forces and Business," Journal of Artificial Societies and Social Simulation, Journal of Artificial Societies and Social Simulation, vol. 15(2), pages 1-5.
    • Handle: RePEc:jas:jasssj:2011-125-1
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    1. Joshua M. Epstein, 2008. "Why Model?," Journal of Artificial Societies and Social Simulation, Journal of Artificial Societies and Social Simulation, vol. 11(4), pages 1-12.
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    3. Brian Heath & Raymond Hill & Frank Ciarallo, 2009. "A Survey of Agent-Based Modeling Practices (January 1998 to July 2008)," Journal of Artificial Societies and Social Simulation, Journal of Artificial Societies and Social Simulation, vol. 12(4), pages 1-9.
    4. Matthias Meyer & Iris Lorscheid & Klaus G. Troitzsch, 2009. "The Development of Social Simulation as Reflected in the First Ten Years of JASSS: a Citation and Co-Citation Analysis," Journal of Artificial Societies and Social Simulation, Journal of Artificial Societies and Social Simulation, vol. 12(4), pages 1-12.
    5. Cynthia Nikolai & Gregory Madey, 2009. "Tools of the Trade: A Survey of Various Agent Based Modeling Platforms," Journal of Artificial Societies and Social Simulation, Journal of Artificial Societies and Social Simulation, vol. 12(2), pages 1-2.
    6. Lawrence Boland, 2002. "Towards a useful methodology discipline," Journal of Economic Methodology, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 8(1), pages 3-10.
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    1. Cathérine Grisar & Matthias Meyer, 2016. "Use of simulation in controlling research: a systematic literature review for German-speaking countries," Management Review Quarterly, Springer, vol. 66(2), pages 117-157, April.
    2. Lorscheid, Iris & Meyer, Matthias, 2016. "Divide and conquer: Configuring submodels for valid and efficient analyses of complex simulation models," Ecological Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 326(C), pages 152-161.
    3. Sina Hocke & Matthias Meyer & Iris Lorscheid, 2015. "Improving simulation model analysis and communication via design of experiment principles: an example from the simulation-based design of cost accounting systems," Journal of Management Control: Zeitschrift für Planung und Unternehmenssteuerung, Springer, vol. 26(2), pages 131-155, August.
    4. Cathérine Grisar & Matthias Meyer, 2015. "Use of Monte Carlo simulation: an empirical study of German, Austrian and Swiss controlling departments," Journal of Management Control: Zeitschrift für Planung und Unternehmenssteuerung, Springer, vol. 26(2), pages 249-273, August.
    5. Friederike Wall, 2016. "Agent-based modeling in managerial science: an illustrative survey and study," Review of Managerial Science, Springer, vol. 10(1), pages 135-193, January.
    6. Stephan Leitner & Friederike Wall, 2015. "Simulation-based research in management accounting and control: an illustrative overview," Journal of Management Control: Zeitschrift für Planung und Unternehmenssteuerung, Springer, vol. 26(2), pages 105-129, August.
    7. Jana Köberlein & Lukas Bank & Stefan Roth & Ekrem Köse & Timm Kuhlmann & Bastian Prell & Maximilian Stange & Marc Münnich & Dominik Flum & Daniel Moog & Steffen Ihlenfeldt & Alexander Sauer & Matthias, 2022. "Simulation Modeling for Energy-Flexible Manufacturing: Pitfalls and How to Avoid Them," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(10), pages 1-25, May.

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