BD-X09

BD-X09
PGDM-PT-2009-12: Term-VIII

Business Dynamics
Prof. Rahul Thakurta

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 and role playing games 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. Project related guidelines would be provided during 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	Problem Definition and Model Purpose
3	Building Theory with Causal Loop Diagram
4	Developing Stock and Flow Structure of Systems
5, 6	Model Constructs for Delays
	Coflows and Aging Chains
	The Dynamics of Growth
7	Quiz
8	Modeling Decision Making
9	Nonlinear Relationships Formulation
	Modeling Human Behavior and Expectation Formation
10 - 14	Hands-on-Exposure to Model Building
15	Presentations and Wrap-up

E. Evaluation Method

· Class Participation – 10%
· Groupwise Hands-on Experience – 30%
· Quiz (1) – 20%
· End-term Examination – 40%

F. Text & Software

· Business Dynamics: Systems Thinking and Modeling for a Complex World, John D. Sterman, McGraw-Hill/Irwin
· Vensim Personal Learning Edition (PLE, free for academic use can be downloaded from www.vensim.com
Created By: Debasis Mohanty on 08/19/2011 at 09:12 AM
Category: ExPGP-III Doctype: Document

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