Modeling skills for DES and SD: An exploratory study on their development in new practitioners

This paper compares widely employed simulation modeling approaches: System Dynamics (SD) and Discrete Event Simulation (DES). SD and DES follow two quite different modeling philosophies and can bring very different but complimentary insights in understanding to the same `real world´ problem. An exploratory study is undertaken to investigate the ability of new practitioners to assimilate and then put into practice both modeling approaches. We found evidence that new practitioners can master both simulation techniques but they developed skills at representing the tangible characteristics of systems, the realm of DES, easier than conceptualizing the intangible properties of systems such as feedback processes, the realm of SD. More emphasis should be made of helping new practitioners develop a deeper understanding of the links between the various stages of the modeling process, especially model conceptualization, as well as more practice in visualizing the conceptually difficult feedback processes so vital in SD modeling.