Journal Paper

Suprisingly after a long time I found a paper about bringing discreteness to System Dynamics models.


On the nature of discontinuities in system dynamics modelling of disrupted projects
Authors: Howick S.1; Eden C.1

http://www.ingentaconnect.com/content/pal/01605682
/2004/00000055/00000006/art00004

Qualitative data

One of the problems in every simulation is to collect data for simulation model. In many case the quantitative data is not available and the researcher need to feed the model by her assumption or understanding of the system. the following paper can be helpful to use quantitative data for system dynamcis.

Collecting and analyzing qualitative data for system dynamics: methods and models

http://www3.interscience.wiley.com/cgi-bin/abstract/107060999/ABSTRACT?CRETRY=1&SRETRY=0

System Dynamics in Project Management

Here is a list of the references on applciation of System Dynamics in Project management. I guess I have covered all of them. But if you know any other reference which is missing I will be happy to know.


Abdel-Hamid, T. K. (1988). "Understanding the 90% syndrome in software project management: A simulation case study ". Journal of Systems and Software 8: 109-119.

Abdel-Hamid, T. K. (1990). "On the Utility of Historical Project Statistics for Cost and Schedule Estimation: Results from a Simulation-based Case Study". Journal of Systems and Software 13: 71-82.

Abdel-Hamid, T. K. (1992). "Investigating the impacts of managerial turnover succession on software project performance ". Journal of Management Information Systems 9: 127-144.

Abdel-Hamid, T. K. and S. E. Madnick (1991). Software Project Dynamics: An integrated approach. Prentice Hall. USA

Ackermann, F., C. Eden and T. Williams (1997). "Modeling for Litigation: Mixing Qualitative and Quantitative Approaches". Interfaces 27(2): 48-65.

Ford, N. D. (1995). The Dynamics of Project Management: An Investigation of the Impacts of Project Process and Coordination on Performance. Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology. PhD dissertation.

Ford, N. D., D. M. Lander and J. J. Voyer (2002). "A real option approach to valuing strategic flexibility in uncertain construction projects". Construction Management and Economics 20: 343-351.

Ford, N. D. and J. Sterman (1998). "Dynamic Modeling of product development processes". System Dynamics Review 14(1): 31-69.

Howick, S. (2003). "Using system dynamics to analyse disruption and delay in complex projects for litigation: can the modelling purposes be met?" Journal of Operational Research Society 54: 222-229.

Howick, S. (2005). "Using system dynamics models with litigation audience". European Journal of Operational Research 162: 239-250.Levary, R. R. and C. Y. Lin (1991). "Modelling the Software Development Process Using and Expert Simulation System Having Fuzzy Logic". Software-Practice and Experience 21(2): 133-148.

Levary, R. R., D. J. Synott and C. Y. Lin (1988). "An Intelligent Dynamic Simulation Model for Designing Software Development Processes". OMEGA 16(6): 569-575.

Love, P. E. D., G. D. Holt, L. Y. Shen, H. Li and Z. Irani (2002). "Using system dynamics to better understand change and rework in construction project management systems". International Journal of Project Management 20: 425-436.

Lyneis, J., K. Cooper and A. E. Sharon (2001). "Strategic management of complex projects: a case study using system dynamics". System Dynamics Review 17(3): 237-260.

Repenning, N. P. (2000). "A dynamic model of resource allocation in multi-project research and development systems". System Dynamics Review 16(3): 173-212.

Roberts, E. B. (1964). The Dynamics of Research and Development. Harper and Row. USARoberts, E. B. (1974). "A Simple Model of R&D Project Dynamics". In E. B. Robert (Ed). Managerial Applications of System Dynamics. Cambridge, MA, Productivity Press: 293-314.

Rodrigues, A. and J. Bowers (1996). "The role of system dynamics in project management". International Journal of Project Management 14(4): 213-220.

Rodrigues, A. and T. Williams (1998). "System Dynamics in project management: assessing the impacts of client behaviour on project performance". Journal of Operational Research Society 49: 2-15.

Williams, T. (2002). Modelling complex projects. Wiley. ChichesterWilliams, T., F. Ackermann and C. Eden (2003). "Structuring a delay and disruption claim: An application of cause-mapping and system dynamics". European Journal of Operational Research 148: 192-204.

Williams, T., C. Eden, F. Ackermann and A. Tait (1995). "The Effect of Design Changes and Delays on Project Costs". Journal of Operational Research Society 46: 809-818.

research procedure

I believe the research methods which are presented in many SD books are good for practitioners, while for a researcher and specially a researcher doing a PhD more sophisticated procedures are necessary. I have developted one. What do you think about it?

Conference deadline

The deadline to submit papers to 2006 System Dynamcis PhD Colloquium is 24 April 2006.

Discreteness in SD

Integrating discrete flows and events in system dynamics models is something which ic neglected. Today softwares(specialy Powesim) provide the capability to creat random numbers and define discrete flows. I am sure in reality many of the processes are discrete and the modelling is supposed to represent the reality. I dont know why it has been neglected in the System Dynamics community.