Changing the Paradigm: Simulation, Now a Method of First Resort

Thumbnail Image
Files
Changing_the_Paradigm.pdf (263.13 KB)
Authors
Lucas, Thomas W.
Kelton, W. David
Sánchez, Paul J.
Sanchez, Susan M.
Anderson, Ben L.
Subjects
design of experiments
history of computing
simulation
last resort
analytical models
simulation-modeling paradigms
simulation software
simulation analysis
future of simulation
Advisors
Date of Issue
2015
Date
2015
Publisher
Wiley
Language
Abstract
Decades ago, simulation was famously characterized as a “method of last resort,” to which analysts should turn only“when all else fails.” In those intervening decades, the technologies supporting simulation—computing hardware, simulation-modeling paradigms, simulation software, design-and-analysis methods—have all advanced dramatically. We offer an updated view that simulation is now a very appealing option for modeling and analysis. When applied properly, simulation can provide fully as much insight, with as much precision as desired, as can exact analytical methods that are based on more restrictive assumptions.The fundamental advantage of simulation is that it can tolerate far less restrictive modeling assumptions, leading to an underlying model that is more reflective of reality and thus more valid, leading to better decisions.
Type
Article
Description
The article of record as published may be found at http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/nav.21628
URI
https://hdl.handle.net/10945/57859
Series/Report No
Department
Operations Research (OR)
Organization
Identifiers
NPS Report Number
Sponsors
Funder
Format
11 p.
Citation
Lucas, T.W., Kelton, W.D., Sanchez, P.J., Sanchez, S.M. and Anderson, B.L., 2015. Changing the paradigm: Simulation, now a method of first resort. Naval Research Logistics (NRL), 62(4), pp.293-303.
Distribution Statement
Rights
This publication is a work of the U.S. Government as defined in Title 17, United States Code, Section 101. Copyright protection is not available for this work in the United States.
Collections
Publications