Abstraction Methods to Support Transformation Analysis Using Organizational Simulation and Enterprise Prototyping
(2008-present)

Sponsor(s): IBM
Investigator(s): Doug Bodner and Bill Rouse

Synopsis:
This project studies large-scale service systems and develops structured methods to model such systems at different levels of abstraction for scalable transformation analysis. The case study service system provides pre-sales consulting services and after-sales support services for computer servers.

A Framework and Tools for Organizational Simulation
(2008-present)

Sponsor(s): U.S. Air Force
Investigator(s): Doug Bodner and Bill Rouse

Synopsis:
The behavior and performance of people and organizations are central to successful Human Systems Integration (HSI).  Existing tools do not allow HSI issues to be resolved early enough in system design and development to avoid cost and delay.  The goal of this project is to create, evaluate, and refine organizational simulations of systems prior to deployment to address and resolve HSI issues at the design stage, rather than in prototyping/testing.  To realize this objective, we will develop representations for the important elements of an organizational simulation – world models, character models and organizational stories.  These will be implemented as components and libraries.  We also will develop tools to map these elements to existing simulation engines.

Deployment of a Global Delivery System: Virtual Performance Modeling with Human Interaction
(2008-present)

Sponsor(s): Lockheed Martin
Investigator(s): Leon McGinnis and Bill Kessler

Synopsis:
Lockheed Martin Aerospace (LM Aero) is exploring the transformation of their future business model for producing and supporting military aircraft from traditional command-and-control to a collaborative performance based reward model, and at the same time transforming operating capabilities for achieving broader multinational partnerships. Recognizing the potential risks associated with such an ambitious enterprise transformation, LM Aero sponsored an initial investigation by the Tennenbaum Institute to determine what could be done during the business system design and deployment to minimize the impacts of these risks. A multi-disciplinary and multi-university team, led by Bill Kessler and Leon McGinnis, considered the full spectrum of risks in such a large, complex, multi-firm global socio-technical manufacturing network. The team suggested an approach to risk identification, evaluation, and mitigation that would work closely with LM Aero and partner stakeholders to insure not only successful research but also effective knowledge transfer. The suggested approach involved R&D addressing: Reference Modeling, Collaboration Readiness and Capability, Enterprise Inertia Analysis, System Exogenous Shock Analysis, System Endogenous Analysis, and Collaboration Tools and Technologies.

Health Advisor
(2006-present)

Sponsor(s): Sponsor
Investigator(s): Rahul C. Basole, Douglas Bodner and Kristi Kirkland

Synopsis:
The Tennenbaum Institute is developing, with partial support from IBM, an online game for managing healthcare delivery – Health Advisor. Each player manages a set of clients through the healthcare system with a goal of maximizing the value of outcomes – the average health state of his or her clients divided by the costs of achieving this state. This goal is pursued by talking with agent-based clients about their health state, accessing information of the performance and costs of alternative providers, assigning clients to providers, and monitoring results. The primary objective of the Health Advisor is to support research focused on assessing the impact of information on healthcare delivery strategies and, consequently, health states and costs. A secondary objective is focused on potential applications in education, ranging from health benefit functions in enterprises to student education in medical, nursing, public health, and business schools.

The Impact of Enterprise and System Characteristics on the Effectiveness of Acquisition Policy Approaches
(2009-present)

Sponsor(s): Naval Postgraduate School
Investigator(s): Doug Bodner and Bill Rouse

Synopsis:
This project investigates the impact of system characteristics such as modularity and production level and of enterprise characteristics such as S&T strategy and mission risk on the effectiveness of different DoD acquisition policies for military systems. Effectiveness is judged by capability deployed and cost incurred.