Our experience and best practice finds that successful Simulation projects are undertaken as follows:  Initial scoping exercise: to define the aims, scope, key elements and variables of the exercise. This includes investigation, discussion and evaluation of the aims, available data versus the objectives, outline planning of the base model elements and basic model metrics. Basic model – component design: from agreeing the outputs from the initial scoping exercise, we design and construct the core elements of the simulation model, and test these for operation, using rules and sample data, for confirmation by yourselves as to valid model operation. PHASE 2: MAIN MODEL & SCENARIO PLANNING Main model – development, testing and validation of the overall model, using the component sets from the previous stage. Scenario building and running: in this stage we utilise the main model, and variants thereof, to run different data and resource scenarios, as required by the client. This is the stage where the dynamic model and output metrics can be viewed and compared, to assist in the resource decision making process. |