Learning and Education Experience in System Dynamics of Management Students

Abstract

Article describes experiences in the teaching of a modelling and simulation course for students at Faculty of Organizational Sciences. The course consists of time-continuous simulation based on System Dynamics (SD) and discrete event simulation (DES). It is held in the 3rd year of studies, at which point students have taken courses in mathematics, statistics, theory of systems, as well as organizational and economic courses. The final grade for the course is derived from the student's project and written exam. Students took part in an experiment where they had to solve a managerial decision problem supported by a simulation model. Experimental results were then analysed and discussed in the students' projects. Students' contributions were part of their final grade. The results show that students, taking the course of Modelling and Simulation, thought that application of the simulation model contributes to a greater understanding of the problem, the faster finding of solutions, and enhanced confidence of the participants. The results are explained and discussed using a learning model.