Agent-based Modeling and Simulation Course

Navigation Home Agenda Registration May 18, 2009 to May 22, 2009 Held at Argonne National Laboratory, Argonne, IL. Capturing Business Complexity with Agent-Based Modeling and Simulation: Useful, Usable, and Used Techniques General Description: An intensive business applications-oriented introduction to agent-based modeling and simulation (ABMS) based on Michael North and Charles Macal’s new book Managing Business Complexity: Discovering Strategic Solutions with Agent-Based Modeling and Simulation (Oxford 2007). The first half of the course will focus on ABMS concepts from the perspective of company managers and analysts. The second half of the course will focus on ABMS implementation from the perspective of company software developers and will include extensive hands-on exercises. Participants are invited to attend the first session, the second session, or both depending on their interests. Each participant will receive a copy of Managing Business Complexity, lunches, and break refreshments as part of their course fee. Format and Topics: An intensive series of lectures and hands-on laboratories are used to introduce the foundational ideas and tools of ABMS and their application to business questions. Topics include the definition of agents, the design and construction of agents, the design and construction of agent environments, understanding of ABMS results, effective presentation of ABMS results, and applications of these core topics to specific examples. A Microsoft Excel retail store model, a Mathematica supply chain ABMS, and a Repast Simphony supply chain ABMS are discussed in detail. Registrants are asked to provide a paragraph on the ABMS applications they are most interested in to help focus instruction on the issues of greatest relevance to the audience. Who Should Attend: Three groups should attend the course: managers involved in strategic planning or operations, analysts who design and operate models, and software developers who build models. The course introduces managers to ABMS, shows them how ABMS can be useful to their businesses, and describes how managers can present ABMS results to senior decision makers. Managers should attend the first session of the course. The course gives analysts the principles of ABMS design, discusses the fundamental features of the leading ABMS development tools and how these features affect ABMS design, and teaches them how to present ABMS results to decision makers. Analysts should attend both sessions of the course. The course gives software developers the basic principles of ABMS design and shows how to effectively use the leading ABMS development tools. Software developers should attend both sessions of the course. Prerequisites and Requirements: There are no prerequisites for the first session. Prerequisites for the second session are a good knowledge of general ABMS concepts and a basic familiarity with programming in any high-level language or spreadsheet. Course Dates: The course dates are Monday through Friday, May 18–22, 2009. Session I runs from Monday, May 18, 2009, through the morning of Wednesday, May 20, 2009. Session II runs from the afternoon of Wednesday, May 20, 2000, though Friday, May 22, 2009. Course Instructors and Speakers' List: Guenter Conzelmann, Argonne National Laboratory Richard Cirillo, Argonne National Laboratory J. Stephen Lansing, Santa Fe Institute and The University of Arizona Shannon Larsen, Santa Fe Institute Charles Macal, Argonne National Laboratory and The University of Chicago John Pepper, Santa Fe Institute [Invited] Michael North, Argonne National Laboratory and The University of Chicago David Sallach, Argonne National Laboratory and The University of Chicago Charles Van Groningen, Argonne National Laboratory