Simple game to demonstrate TOC using Excel/Powerpoint/SAS

[Hari]

Hi,

I have read the book "The Goal" by Eliyahu Goldratt and wanted to know
if any simple Excel (or Powerpoint or even SAS if possible ) based game
is available for educational purpose which simulates the matchbox
experiment in the book, demonstrating the effect of statistical
fluctuations on a set of dependent events.

It would be great even if a simpler version of this experiment is
available in parallel to one in the book where a man based process
(having variability in output) feeds a machine (which has no
variability in output) leading to build up of inventory.

I think the game might be built using a random number generator and
probably user can set number of rounds for which the game will run (in
slow or fast motion depending on user preferences). Does anybody know
of such a tool (or similar one) which might be available already?

Regards,
HP
India

(PS: am posting to all the relevant groups in one go. Not sure whether
it can be done in SAS, as I wanted to stick in some graphics if
possible to denote a man and another to denote a machine etc)

 

[David M. Marcovitz]

A long time ago (about 20 years ago), I did some work with modeling
languages that would be perfect for this kind of thing. I believe the
name of one of the languages was SLAM (though I recall I didn't really
like that one as well as the others I tried, but I don't remember the
other names--I just remember slamming SLAM). There are probably even
better systems like that available now.

However, in PowerPoint, this kind of thing is POSSIBLE, but you would
have to program it all in VBA.

--David

--
David M. Marcovitz
Microsoft PowerPoint MVP
Director of Graduate Programs in Educational Technology
Loyola College in Maryland
Author of _Powerful PowerPoint for Educators_
http://www.PowerfulPowerPoint.com/

 

[Hari]

You might want to get in touch with Tushar Mehta (an Excel MVP)
http://www.tushar-mehta.com/index.html

He's done a multi-user version of a game that sounds quite like what you're
after.

As always, thanx for a valuable tip, Steve.

regards,
HP
India