An insightful and provocative series of simulation articles (40 page PDF document) from McKinsey & Company that explain how simulations can be the key to successful strategic change. Articles include--
Michael Schrage describes how spreadsheet prototyping revolutionized computing. Schrage claims that a genuinely creative spreadsheet simulation evokes a "suspension of disbelief" that activates the adrenal glands along with the mind. Models turn out to be more about mediating interactions between people than mediating interaction between information. Spreadsheet simulations are also successful because they have a short "Mean Time to Payback." Dan Bricklin, cocreator of VisiCalc, attributes the success of the spreadsheets to the financial analysts who believed that the system paid for itself in under a week.
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The Center Of Science and Industry (COSI) in Columbus, Ohio has created a simulation that teaches students how knee surgery is performed. In addition to being entertaining, the simulation interactivity increases knowledge retention. Warning: some of the procedures in this simulation are rather graphic.
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Maxis now offers SimCity classic as a free web simulation (free registration required). Play Will Wright's classic urban planning simulation that redefined personal computing simulations and simulation interactivity. Mike Perry developed this ActiveX version for the web.
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You've experienced traffic from the driver's seat, now experiment with its causes using a simulation developed by Martin Treiber and Ansgar Hennecke. Watch what happens to cars and trucks on a ring-road, when lane closes, with traffic lights, on an on-ramp, or on an uphill grade.
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