An assurance process for the exchange of operations research software models used for military simulation

A Hossain, T Moon and N J Curtis

Journal of Simulation, 2013, vol. 7, issue 1, 38-49

Abstract: Modelling and Simulation (M&S) have become an integral part of the evidence-based approach to decision making used by Defence departments around the world. A key part of M&S is the use of computer-based software that allows study of conflict and warfare. In order to assure confidence in the output, the Defence decision maker expects that any model or simulation is ‘fit-for-purpose’ and that appropriate Verification and Validation (V&V) have been conducted. We examine how best to exchange with confidence software models constructed to support military-Operations Research (OR) studies within the context of a pragmatic OR approach that recognises the difficulties inherent in validating epistemological models of warfare that are incomplete or can only be approximately correct. The problem lies in justifying, in a rigorous and structured way, a model as being fit-for-purpose. The lessons from a specific case study lead us to propose that the OR and M&S communities adopt a standardised approach to the V&V of military-OR models. We suggest that a level of assurance in models exchanged or co-developed internationally could be readily achieved by adopting the current UK guidelines, although with some modifications, along with the acceptance of a definition for fitness-for-purpose cast in the context of OR studies.

Date: 2013
References: Add references at CitEc
Citations:

Downloads: (external link)
http://hdl.handle.net/10.1057/jos.2012.17 (text/html)
Access to full text is restricted to subscribers.

Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:taf:tjsmxx:v:7:y:2013:i:1:p:38-49

Ordering information: This journal article can be ordered from
http://www.tandfonline.com/pricing/journal/tjsm20

DOI: 10.1057/jos.2012.17

Access Statistics for this article

Journal of Simulation is currently edited by Christine Currie

More articles in Journal of Simulation from Taylor & Francis Journals
Bibliographic data for series maintained by Chris Longhurst ().