Fostering an Entrepreneurial Mindset in Systems Simulation

Abstract

Simulation is tool frequently used by companies when designing systems to evaluate alternative system designs. In particular, simulation is employed when the dynamic behavior of a system is not well understood and the decisions that are being made have significant economic or social impacts. However, courses in systems simulation typically focus on the technical and statistical aspects of model building and the comparison of design alternatives focused on operational performance of the system (that is, performance metrics that can be collected within the simulation itself.) This paper investigates how an entrepreneurial mindset can be fostered through activities/methods that encourage students to look beyond the operational aspects of system design to the overall value and impact of design alternatives. The development, implementation, and outcomes of two KEEN modules are presented to demonstrate the integration of an entrepreneurial mindset in a systems simulation course.