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Simulator Shell Overview Hall Marketing’s simulations utilise shell programs. These are assemblies of standard routines that provide a basic framework that is used to encapsulate the simulation model and its database. |
Our approach means that, to design a new simulation, designer only needs to design the model and provide it with data. Not only does this more than halves development time, but, since the shells incorporate leading edge concepts, simulation functionality is ensured.
Types of Shell
There are several types of shell that address simulation design needs comprehensively.
- Tutor Mediated Shell is used where several teams of participants compete and where the tutor takes decisions from teams, enters these, simulates the period and returns the printed results to teams.
- Direct Use Shell is used where individual teams enter their own decisions directly into the simulator and where the model simulates competition.
- Planning Shell is used where the simulation is used as a planning exercise. Here the participants use the simulation model to prepare a series of plans, select the best and then justify this selection to the whole group.
- Decision Support Shell is used where the simulation is so complex that individual teams need a planning model to help them make decisions.
- Negotiation Shell is used where the simulation is used as part of a computer enhanced negotiation and where is used to support selling and buying groups during the role-play.
- Process Shell is used where team's explore and work their way through a business process or statistical or management science techniques.
For the Tutor Mediated shell, one computer and printer is needed for each group of between two and eight teams of four or five participants. The Direct Use, Planning, Decision Support, Negotiation and Analysis shells require one computer (and, depending on the simulation, a printer) for each team of three to five participants.
Software Elements
As shown in the diagram the software splits into two parts: The standard, pre-existing software (the shell) in green. And the software specific to a particular simulation. The shell (pre-exisiting software) accounts for the majority of the software - between 85% and 95% of program code.
Also, as the simulation is driven by several databases, this allows different versions of a simulation to be developed to meet specific needs in a matter of hours or days.
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Each shell consists of the following standard elements:
· Desk Top
To construct a new simulation, the designer provides:
Pre-existing/standard components (85%-95%)
Each simulation shell has a different simulation manager that manages the simulation and provides the interface with the user. Each of these have different processing cycles but consist of the same components.
Although each simulation shell has a different simulation manager that manages the simulation all simulation managers have the same user interface (Desk Top). This means that once a trainer is familiar with one simulation he or she will find it easy to use another.
This controls the content, style and timing of reports. The report to be displayed and/or printed is selected by the Simulation Manager based of the Control File. The data for the reports are derived from the Parameter Database and the report structure is set by the Reporting Database, After creation, the report is transferred to the Display/Printing Engine for output.
The Decision Entry Engine is used by the Simulation Manager to enter decisions. The Control File and the Reporting Database define the timing, content and form of the data entry screens.
After entry is confirmed, the Decision Entry Engine uses routines in the Simulation Model to check the data for illegal, unusual and problematic values. Depending on the simulation, a copy of the decisions is passed to the Reporting Engine for display or printing.
Hall Marketing’s shell programs have a context sensitive, hypertext help system to help with the program, advise on the current task, explain the current display and provide an online Manual. The Help Engine chooses and displays data from the Help Database when requested by the Simulation Manager.
This controls the way reports are output to the microcomputer's screen and to the printer. Specifically, it controls the font size of the display and the way rows and columns are displayed. (These options are set in the Control File.)
This file provides data used by the Simulation Manager to define which hypertext help is to be used to support program use and what texts are to be used for the user interface. Depending on the type of shell these are pre-set and must not be changed.
This file provides the text used by the Simulation Manager. A single text file serves all simulations that use the same Simulation Shell. By placing the text data in a file it is possible to provide the simulation in languages other than English.
Simulation specific components (5%-15%)
The simulation model and the data that drive it are the only parts of the simulation that need to be programmed. The simulation model consists of several sections that are used by the shell's processing engine.
This consists of the data that controls the operation of the simulation. It defines the reports used, the decisions to be made, font sizes etc. By having several Control Files the designer can provide several versions of the simulation to address different training needs, trainer skills or market segments.
This database stores the parameters and data used by the simulation model. The database structure is based on experience developing more thansixty simulations and is appropriate for over ninety-five percent of simulations. However, for very complex simulations, it is possible to incorporate additional databases.
As simulation takes place, the data in the parameters database is fully journalised. So, it is always possible to return to an earlier period and rerun the simulation from there (to correct entry mistake or to explore different strategies).
This database stores the data defining the simulations reports and used by the Reporting Engine to produce output. A comprehensive range of report structures is available that cover all normal needs. However, for very complex simulations custom reports can be used.
This database stores qualitative comments and their associated parameters. These are used to comment on decisions, results, leak information to other teams and list strengths and weaknesses.
This database serves two purposes. It stores the basic help with the use of the Simulation Shell and, optionally, an online manual and explanations of reports and terms. The database has full hypertext capabilities and is used by the Hypertext Help Engine to provide context sensitive help about how to use the software, the current task, explanations of report content and comments to stimulate thought. Besides text, the help database can play sounds and display pictures.
Design Aids
To ensure the greatest flexibility, there are several interface components that can be built into the simulation models.
A range of utility programs is available to support the design process.
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Most recent update: 07/05/06
Hall Marketing, Studio 11, Colman's Wharf, 45 Morris Road, London E14 6PA,
ENGLAND
Phone & Fax +44 (0)20 7537 2982 E-mail jeremyhall@simulations.co.uk