BD-X08

BD-X08
(PGDM-PT 2008-11 : Term-VIII)

Business Dynamics
(Faculty: Prof. Rahul Thakurta)

COURSE OUTLINE

A. Objective

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.

B. Instructor

Rahul Thakurta, Extn. 826, rahul@ximb.ac.in

C. Pedagogy

The course would use a balanced mix of class room lectures, role playing games and management flight simulators to develop principles for the successful management of complex strategies. A part of the course would involve building and analyzing simulation models with the help of Vensim simulation software.

Ų Group Activities

Group Activities would involve working in projects for hands-on exposure to building system dynamics models. The project outlines would be provided in the first week of the commencement of the course. The students are expected to form their own groups, and the size of the group to be decided based on the number of course registration.

D. Tentative Session Plan

Session	Description
1	Course Introduction and Overview
2	Building Theory with Causal Loop Diagram
3	Developing Stock and Flow Structure of Systems
4, 5	Model Constructs for Delays, Smoothing and Forecasting
6, 7, 8	Model Archetypes for Growth, Stabilization & Cyclicality
9, 10	Managing Hyper Growth and Instability
11	System Dynamics in Action: The Dynamics of Project Management
12, 13	Group Projects (Model Development, Implementation, Analysis, Presentation)
14, 15
16, 17
18, 19
20	Conclusion: How to Keep Learning, Follow-up Resources, Career Opportunities, Course Evaluations

E. Evaluation Method

· Class Participation – 10%
· Group Projects – 40%
· Quiz (1) – 10%
· End-term Examination – 40%

F. Text & Software

· System Dynamics Methods: A Quick Introduction, Craig W. Kirkwood
· Business Process Analysis Workshops: System Dynamics Models, Craig W. Kirwood
· Vensim Personal Learning Edition (PLE, free for academic use can be downloaded from www.vensim.com
Created By: Bijoy Kar on 08/10/2010 at 12:57 PM
Category: ExPGP-III Doctype: Document

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