MANSYM III Decision Support System Demonstration

Abstract

This demonstration will show the decision support system for MANSYM which is being used at East Carolina University. This decision support system is partially available in MANSYM III 1 2] and the remainder is planned for inclusion in MANSYM IV. While the author does not know of a decision support system that is as extensive and conceptionalized in the same way, it is clear that management games have been evolving more elaborate decision support systems (see for example [1] and [3]). The decision to develop a decision support system for MANSYM was motivated by a number of factors. First, the author has been concerned by a movement away from management games. Southern Methodist University has dropped games in favor of IFPS and the University of Maryland is reappraising their commitment to game, possibly in favor of IFPS or a similar package. Second, as the computer becomes more and more an integral part of business, it is important that students become more comfortable and adept at the use of the computer. Management games as commonly used do not require computer-based analysis. Third, this author is not alone in his desire to see management games operate on a simulated real time basis (i.e. in a simulated real time environment, the time clock is always ticking and decisions are made on an exception basis). MANSYM’s decision support system coupled with appropriate equipment allows this option. Along the same line, the sys- tern allows elimination of IBM cards and all of the attendant mess.