Is problem solving, or simulation model solving, mission critical?

Abstract

How do we consider problems and models in the practice of simulation? It is our possibly contentious observation that simulation model solving seems to be more critical to the mission of simulation modeling than problem solving. Inspired by the theme of this year's Winter Simulation Conference, we ask the question, "Is problem solving, or simulation model solving, mission critical?" To investigate this we look at three perspectives, those of the textbook, the article and the editorial. The textbook perspective is the balance of the "traditional" view of simulation presented by the academic textbook against practical experience. The article perspective is a classification of papers published in four leading simulation journals in the year 2004 (ACM TOMACS, SIMULATION, Simulation Modelling Practice and Theory, and Simulation & Gaming). The editorial perspective is a discussion of editorial policy presented by the same journals. Our findings show that our observation is not contradicted.