Deck 20: Simulation

Question 1

Decision variables are random events that the decision maker cannot control.

Answer 1

False

Question 2

Which one of the following relationships is correct?

A)Decision variables reflect the value of uncontrollable variables.
B)Dependent variables reflect the value of decision and uncontrollable variables.
C)Uncontrollable variables reflect the value of decision variables.
D)Uncontrollable variables reflect the values of dependent variables.

Answer 2

B

Question 3

Using a simulation model to gather a year of operating data in a few minutes is known as

A)historical search data collection.
B)Monte Carlo optimization.
C)suboptimization.
D)time compression.

Answer 3

D

Question 4

A statistically significant difference in simulation results,when acted upon by the operations manager,will result in significant process improvements in the eyes of the customer or company or both.

Question 5

A simulation model

A)describes operating characteristics with known equations.
B)replicates the service of customers and keeps track of characteristics such as the number in line,the waiting time,and the total time in the system.
C)prescribes what should be done in a situation.
D)finds the optimal solution to a problem without having to try each alternative.

Question 6

Which of these is a special simulation language?

A)C++
B)FORTRAN
C)SLAM
D)VISUAL BASIC

Question 7

Simulation is the process of reproducing the behaviour of a system using a model that describes the processes of the system.

Question 8

Steady state occurs when the simulation is repeated over enough time that the average results for performance measures remain constant.

Question 9

The manager of a branch bank wants to build a simulation model of the lobby operation to reduce the waiting time of her customers.The number of customers waiting in line at any point of time is an example of

A)a decision variable.
B)an uncontrollable variable.
C)a time-compressed variable.
D)a dependent variable.

Question 10

Which one of the following statements about simulation analysis is FALSE?

A)If a result is statistically significant,it is always managerially significant.
B)Simulation analysis is a form of hypothesis testing.
C)Analysis of variance is a commonly used statistical method for simulation analysis.
D)Statistical methods require the replication of simulation runs.

Question 11

Which one of the following statements regarding simulation analysis is FALSE?

A)Simulation analysis is a form of hypothesis testing.
B)Analysis of variance is a commonly used statistical method for simulation analysis.
C)Statistical methods require the replication of simulation runs.
D)Each time a simulation model is run for a given set of decision variables,the same random numbers must be used.

Question 12

Time compression is the feature of simulation that allows managers to obtain operating-characteristic estimates in much less time than is required to gather the same operating data from a real system.

Question 13

The manager of a branch bank wants to build a simulation model of the lobby operation to reduce the waiting time of her customers.The number of tellers is an example of

A)a decision variable.
B)an uncontrollable variable.
C)a time-compressed variable.
D)a dependent variable.

Question 14

The manager of a branch bank wants to build a simulation model of the lobby operation to reduce the waiting time of her customers.The number of customers arriving at any point of time is an example of

A)a decision variable.
B)an uncontrollable variable.
C)a time-compressed variable.
D)a dependent variable.

Question 15

Simulation can be used to sharpen managerial decision making.

Question 16

A number that has the same probability of being selected as any other is called a(n)

A)Monte Carlo number.
B)decision number.
C)uncontrolled number.
D)random number.

Question 17

A manager has been given the table shown below and is asked to generate random numbers.Which of the following statements is TRUE?

A)There are no customers in the store 49 percent of the time.
B)The probability of having one customer in the store is 0.30.
C)The relative frequency of having two customers in the store is 0.80.
D)If we randomly choose the numbers 0 through 99 enough times,about 99 percent of the time we will have two customers in the store.

Question 18

Simulation models are

A)useful when waiting-line models are too complex.
B)useful for conducting experiments using the real system.
C)preferred because they find optimal solutions.
D)usually inexpensive relative to other approaches.

Question 19

A simulation model is used to test the impact of the number of sample customers at a supermarket.As the model is run,the decision maker watches the average number of customers in the store rapidly increase from zero until it levels off and holds a constant value.The simulation model is

A)not valid due to the lack of change.
B)in steady state.
C)not valid due to the fluctuation in the statistics.
D)a random variable.

Question 20

Excel can be used to perform

A)discrete,next-event simulation.
B)continuous simulation.
C)analog simulation.
D)Monte Carlo simulation.

Question 21

Why is simulation considered the method of last resort?

Question 22

The two approaches to data collection for simulation are ________ and ________.

Question 23

________ is the act of reproducing the behaviour of a system using a model that describes the processes of the system.

Question 24

What are the motivations for using simulation for analyzing processes?

Question 25

As the operations manager of the bookstore on your college campus,you are keenly aware of the seasonality of demand for your wares.At the start of each semester you puzzle over the number of checkout clerks to schedule and finally decide to model your predicament using Monte Carlo simulation.Describe the simulation process and indicate what assumptions you must make at each step.

Question 26

________ uses random numbers to generate simulation events.

Question 27

________ occurs when the simulation is repeated over enough time that the average results for performance measures remain constant.

Question 28

The arrival of customers at a lemonade stand is modeled in SimQuick using a(n)

A)entrance block.
B)buffer block.
C)workstation block.
D)decision point.

Question 29

What is meant by time compression in a simulation model?

Question 30

A variable that is controlled by the decision-maker and will change from one run to the next as different events are simulated is a(n)________..

Question 31

A number that has the same probability of being selected as any other number is a(n)________.

Question 32

What are the differences between decision variables and uncontrolled variables? Describe the differences and provide an example from a simulation model.

Question 33

What is the difference between a waiting-line model as described in Supplement C and a simulation model of a waiting-line problem?

Question 34

________ is a feature of simulation models that allows them to obtain operating-characteristic estimates in much less time than is required to gather the same operating data from a real system.

Question 35

________ are random events that the decision maker cannot control.

Question 36

A patient's interminable wait for the first available physician is modeled in SimQuick using a(n)

A)entrance block.
B)buffer block.
C)workstation block.
D)decision point.