Simpler Spreadsheet Simulation of Multi-Server Queues

Publication Type

Journal Article

Publication Date

2007

Abstract

Process-driven spreadsheet queuing simulation provides a clear and intuitive approach for students in business modeling courses to learn about queue behavior. With basic spreadsheet skill, some guidance on the generation of random variates and simple assumptions like ôservice in arrival orderö, it is not difficult to construct a single server spreadsheet simulation model. However to extend the model to multiple servers, add-ins, macros or multiple templates (each for a given fixed number of servers) are needed. Hora (2003) showed that array formulas can be used instead, to create the G/G/c spreadsheet model with parametrically adjustable number of servers. This is a great improvement, but array formulations are still inherently complex and therefore not easy for students to comprehend and apply. In this paper, I show that non-array formulations can achieve the same effect, effectively simplifying the model.

Discipline

Computer Sciences | Education | Numerical Analysis and Scientific Computing

Research Areas

Information Systems and Management

Publication

INFORMS Transactions on Education

Volume

7

Issue

2

First Page

172

Last Page

177

ISSN

1532-0545

Identifier

10.1287/ited.7.2.172

Publisher

INFORMS

Additional URL

http://dx.doi.org/10.1287/ited.7.2.172

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