MBDV-MB14

MBDV-MB14
MBA 2014-16: Term-IV

Modeling Business Dynamics using Vensim

Credits	3.0
Faculty Name	Rahul Thakurta
Program	MBA
Academic Year and Term	2015-16, Term-V

1. Course Description

Business Dynamics (BD) is concerned with understanding of forces that shape business performance. Methodological elements of BD enable visualisation of an organization in terms of the structures and policies that create dynamics and regulate performance. The model derived from this is used to perform what-if analysis with policy alternatives. In recent times Business Dynamics has become an important weapon in the arsenal of practitioners who have a need to analyze business policy and strategy. Some of the areas in which the methodology has been applied successfully:
· Growth strategy
· Supply chain design
· Service quality management
· Process improvement
· Project management and product development

Overall, the course is expected to enable the student to develop capability in generating insights via modeling in a wide range of realistic situations.

2. Student Learning Outcomes

· Be able to demonstrate appropriate abilities to integrate knowledge across business disciplines.
· Be able to demonstrate collaboration and team work attributes
· Be able to demonstrate functional/business skills

3. Required Text Books and Reading Material & Software

· Business Dynamics, John Sterman
· Vensim Personal Learning Edition (PLE, free for academic use can be downloaded from www.vensim.com

4. Tentative Session Plan

Session Number	Topics/Activities	Reading/case list etc.
1	Course Introduction and Overview	HBR Case: GM Onstar Project
2	Problem Definition and Model Purpose	Article: Residential Community Dynamics
3-5	Building Theory with Causal Loop Diagram	Session Slides
	Developing Stock and Flow Structure of Systems	- Do -
6	Vensim: Hands on Usage	Lab Session
7-9	Model Constructs for Delays	Hands on Demonstration
	Coflows and Aging Chains	- Do -
10, 11	The Dynamics of Growth	- Do -
12	Model Validation	Article: Model Validation in System Dynamics – Y Barlas
13	System Archetypes	Article: The System Archetypes - William Braun
14	Reality Analysis: Business Dynamics in Airline Industry	Case: People Express Airline - Rise And Decline
15-17	Business Application in Functional Domains like Marketing, IS, Operations, etc	Article Based
19-20	Presentation on Group Projects

* The pedagogy may change as the course progresses

5. Evaluation

· Class Participation – 10%
· Group-wise Project – 40%
· Quiz – 20%
· End-term Examination – 30%

6. Academic Integrity

Students involved in academic dishonesty will receive ZERO on the particular component in which the infraction occurred. Academic dishonesty consists of misrepresentation by deception or by other fraudulent means. In an academic setting this may take any number of forms such as copying or use of unauthorized aids in tests, talking during quizzes and examinations; aiding and abetting another student’s dishonesty; giving false information for the purpose of gaining credits; and resorting to free-riding in group projects.
Created By: Debasis Mohanty on 02/25/2015 at 11:10 AM
Category: BM-II T-V Doctype: Document

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