Teachers' Forum: Spreadsheet Modeling and Simulation Improves Understanding of Queues

Thomas A. Grossman
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Thomas A. Grossman: Faculty of Management, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada T2N 1N4

Interfaces, 1999, vol. 29, issue 3, 88-103

Abstract: Process-driven spreadsheet queuing simulation is a better vehicle for understanding queue behavior than queuing theory or dedicated simulation software. Spreadsheet queuing simulation has many pedagogical benefits in a business school end-user modeling course, including developing students' intuition, giving them experience with active modeling skills, and providing access to tools. Spreadsheet queuing simulations are surprisingly easy to program, even for queues with balking and reneging. The ease of prototyping in spreadsheets invites thoughtless design, so careful spreadsheet programming practice is important. Spreadsheet queuing simulation is inferior to dedicated simulation software for analyzing queues but is more likely to be available to managers and students.

Keywords: queues; simulation; professional; OR/MS education (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 1999
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (7)

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