Systems Engineering Principles and Practice (Wiley Series in Systems Engineering and Management) Review

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(More customer reviews)I have just completed the JHU program in Systems Engineering. This book is the foundation for the curriculum and is a very readable, solid overview of Systems Engineering. All phases of the system life-cycle are introduced and tied together to truly illustrate the process. The book focuses on processes, the tools used will change, but good Systems Engineering will stay the same. The process to derive good requirements that are able to be implemented and tested are the same regardless of technology or field.

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Data Analysis and Decision Making (with Online Content Printed Access Card) Review

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(More customer reviews)On the positive side, this book has many excellent case studies and examples. It is well written and interesting. However, I was disappointed, as I was expecting use of Excel to rigorously solve decision making and data analysis problems. The focus of the book is mostly traditional statistics solved using a group of commercial add-ins for Excel. If this is what you want, then the book would get five stars. However, for data analysis and decision making, I think a more thorough treatment using Excel without relying so much on the add-ins would have been appropriate.

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DATA ANALYSIS AND DECISION MAKING is a teach-by-example approach, learner-friendly writing style, and complete Excel integration focusing on data analysis, modeling, and spreadsheet use in statistics and management science. The Premium Online Content Website (accessed by a unique code with every new book) includes links to the following add-ins: the Palisade Decision Tools Suite (@RISK, StatTools, PrecisionTree, TopRank, RISKOptimizer, NeuralTools, and Evolver); and SolverTable, allowing users to do sensitivity analysis. All of the add-ins is revised for Excel 2007 and notes about Excel 2010 are added where applicable.
About This Edition
New Features
Chapters 2 and 3 are completely rewritten and reorganized, focusing on the description of one variable at a time, and relationships between variables. Both chapters have more coverage of categorical variables, as well as new and more interesting data sets in the examples. Many of the problems in previous editions were deleted or updated, and a number of brand new problems were added for relevance to current statistical analysis. A problem guide is available to instructors showing the context of each of the "data" problems, and it also shows the correspondence between problems in this edition and problems in the previous edition.
The previous edition's Chapter 4 is renamed Chapter 17, "Importing Data into Excel," and is completely rewritten with its section on Excel tables located in Chapter 2. (Previous edition chapters 5-17 were renumbered 4-16.)
The book is still based on Excel 2007, but notes about changes in Excel 2010 have been added where they apply. Specifically, there is a small section on the new slicers for pivot tables, and there are several mentions of the new statistical functions (although the old functions still work).
Each chapter now has 10-20 more consistent and relevant "Conceptual Questions" in the end-of-chapter sections.
The first two linear programming examples in Chapter 13 (replacing the former Chapter 14) are replaced by two product mix models, where the second builds on the first. The previous "diet" model was overly complex as a first linear programming example.
Several chapter-opening vignettes are replaced with newer and more interesting ones and there are now many short "fundamental insights" throughout the chapters. These insights are designed to allow the students to step back from the details and see the really important ideas.
All updated screenshots and accompanying explanations to reflect Excel 2007 and updated add-ins. Tips on Excel 2010 have been added where applicable. This edition now provides access to Excel add-in software via an access code to a Premium Online Content Website for every student purchasing a new book.
Instructors' Resource CD: PowerPoints, and Solutions, Case, and Example files have been updated to reflect the core text 4th edition. The Test Bank has been updated with new questions and is now offered in ExamView testing software.

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Dynamic Modeling for Business Management: An Introduction (Modeling Dynamic Systems) Review

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(More customer reviews)I read this after Sterman's 'Business Dynamics'. While 'Business Dynamics' is a graduate level text book, this book is more aligned to the requirements of practitioners like consultants and managers. MDS have a series of books on use of dynamic modeling, each focusing on a specific area like biological systems, economics, health sciences, environmental systems etc.

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Modelling is a tool used by savvy business managers to understand the processes of their business and to estimate the impact of changes. Dynamic Modelling for Business Management applies dynamic modelling to business management, using accessible modelling techniques that are demonstrated starting with fundamental processes and advancing to more complex business models. Discussions of modelling emphasize its practical use for decision making and implementing change for measurable results. Readers will learn about both manufacturing and service-oriented business processes using hands-on lessons. Then will then be able to manipulate additional models to try out their knowledge and address issues specific to their own businesses and interests. All of the models used in the book and a run-time version of the ithink software are included on a CD-ROM included with the book. Some of the topics covered include workflow management, supply-chain-management, and strategy.

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Modeling the Environment, Second Edition Review

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(More customer reviews)A highly readable introduction to environmental modeling. What distinguishes the book from other environmental science and environmental modeling works is its interdisciplinary treatment. In particular, the models integrate the physical world and the world of human behavior. Far too many environmental models fail to close the feedbacks between human behavior and the state of the environment, instead taking waste inputs or resource use as exogenous. This book helps students learn to model human behavior (social and economic) as an integral part of the ecological system. The models and software mean the book encourages active learning, and enable students to explore important issues on their own if they choose.

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Modeling the Environment was the first textbook in an emerging field-the modeling techniques that allow managers and researchers to see in advance the consequences of actions and policies in environmental management. This new edition brings the book thoroughly up to date and reaffirms its status as the leading introductory text on the subject. System dynamics is one of the most widely known and widely used methods of modeling. The fundamental principles of this approach are demonstrated here with a wide range of examples, including geo-hydrology, population biology, epidemiology and economics. The applications demonstrate the transferability of the systems approach across disciplines, across spatial scales, and across time scales. All of the models are implemented with stock and flow software programs such as Stella and Vensim. These programs are easy and fun to learn, and they allow students to develop realistic models within the first few weeks of a college course. System dynamics has emerged as the most common approach in collaborative projects to address environmental problems. The stock and flow structures and the emphasis on feedback control provide a common language that is understood by scientists from many disciplines. Although the interdisciplinary approach described here is widely used in practice, there are few books to aid instruction. Modeling the Environment meets the urgent need for instructional materials in interdisciplinary modeling of environmental systems.

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Modeling for Learning Organizations (System Dynamics Series) Review

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(More customer reviews)"Modeling for Learning Organizations" builds off of the extensive experience of top professors and consultants using the SD tools to test strategies and build an understanding of firm and industry dynamics.
"Modeling" also includes a section overviewing the various simulation software packages available to modelers. Though developers like High-Performance Systems, Vensim, Pugh-Roberts, and PowerSim have made product enhancements to date, the sections from each company provide a great introduction to what is out there how each package can be applied.
The most valuable aspect of the book is probably in the case studies and methodological explorations of several authors. A number of key insights are offered as authors reflect upon the successes and shortcoming of the methods each chose to use to explore and develop models in a variety of business and public environments.
This is definitely a must have for any SD library.

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Conventional wisdom says that we can learn from our errors, but errors in the business world can be prohibitively costly. To truly understand how complex business organizations function requires different tools than most managers have been given. Yet managers need methods to understand how their organization works in order to test policies, discover flaws in thinking, and find the hidden leveragepoints within the complex systems they manage. Through a system simulation, the dynamics of the whole system, not just the individual parts, becomes apparent. The outcome of current and future situations becomes possible to predict and with this information, managers can focus on the changes that need to be made.The distinguished contributors to Modeling for Learning Organizations include Jay W. Forrester, Peter Senge, and Arie De Geus. You will learn about leading applications such as:
Shell's work on modeling the oil producers.
The Management Flight Simulator, a computer-based case learning environment pioneered by John Sterman and others at MIT
The landmark Claims Learning Laboratory at Hanover Insurancecompanies.
For managers, professionals, academicians, and everyone who recognizes the profound implications of modeling, this book is an excellent resource. It offers a broad understanding of the modeling process, discusses a multitude of case studies, and provides a review of the most recent simulation software.

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Systems Science and Modeling for Ecological Economics Review

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(More customer reviews)If you did not do modeling before and have no idea where to start from - this book is for you. It is well written and it is fun!
I had to do some modeling for a project that I have been working on. At that moment I did not have much experience in modeling, especially in modeling coupled economic and natural systems. I was looking for a good guide in ecological economic modeling but could not find anything user-friendly and interdisciplinary. I came across the web-course by Dr. Voinov and started it. The book is a great addition to the course. The web-course as well as this textbook lead you through the essential steps of model design and implementation, introduce you to main challenges and ways to resolve them, and give you some great illustrations from practical applications of ecological economics. I especially like that it provides not only the theory of modeling for ecological economics but also discusses software tools and gives you hands on experience with the exercises. I was very excited to see that the textbook is out there now. Enjoy!


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Modeling is a key component to sciences from mathematics to life science, including environmental and ecological studies. By looking at the underlying concepts of the software, we can make sure that we build mathematically feasible models and that we get the most out of the data and information that we have. This book shows how models can be analyzed using simple math and software to generate meaningful qualitative descriptions of system dynamics. This book shows that even without a full analytical, mathematically rigorous analysis of the equations, there may be ways to derive some qualitative understanding of general behavior of a system. By relating some of the modeling approaches and systems theory to real world examples the book illustrates how these approaches can help understand concepts such as sustainability, peak oil, adaptive management, optimal harvest and other practical applications.* Relates modeling approaches and systems theory to real world examples * Teaches students to build mathematically feasible models and get the most of our the data and information available* Wide range of applications in hydrology, population dynamics, market cycles, sustainability theory, management, and more

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Dynamic Modeling of Environmental Systems (Modeling Dynamic Systems) Review

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(More customer reviews)This text is required for a course I am taking as a graduate student. The book is not worth the paper it is printed on. If you are looking for a good introduction to environmental modeling, keep looking. If you are looking for a good introduction to Stella modeling software, keep looking. This book comes with Stella 5.0, which is nearly 10 years old. The inclusion of Stella tutorials almost seems to be an afterthought, because the authors don't use the same terminology as presented in the software. Also, navigation within the book is hindered by poor organizational structure and plain black figures, tables, and text throughout. Many of the figures are drawn by hand (poorly). This topic is supposed to be dynamic and exciting, but the book is dull, disorganized, and disappointing.

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Business Dynamics: Systems Thinking and Modeling for a Complex World with CD-ROM Review

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(More customer reviews)The field of system dynamics was created in 1956 under the leadership of MIT Professor Jay W. Forrester to evaluate how alternative policies affect growth, stability, fluctuation, and changing behavior in corporations, cities, and countries. Forrester founded the System Dynamics Program in the Alfred P. Sloan School of Management at MIT. John Sterman is currently Director of the System Dynamics Group at MIT.
This text is a summary of the wisdom and knowledge gathered over more than twenty years of research dedicated to the study of practical methods for systems thinking and the dynamic modeling of complex systems. It is well written, easy to understand, and worthy of serious consideration.
I believe the text is destined to become a classic. It is written in a straightforward style and does not require prerequisite knowledge of higher mathematics. Indeed, in the author's words, "one of the strengths of the text is the way it presents system dynamics with a minimum of mathematical formalism. The goal is to develop the reader's intuition and conceptual understanding, without sacrificing the rigor of the scientific method." This goal is achieved well.
The text opens with a succinct and well organized description of approaches to the study of complex systems. It develops a set of principles for successful use of systems dynamics and provides well-written overviews of the Modeling Process and dynamic systems.
It covers the construction of causal loop diagrams and describes their application in a variety of business and engineering examples.
This is one of the best texts in its field for upper division undergraduate courses and graduate programs. It will be useful to many in business, engineering, and science.

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