Modelling people’s behaviour using discrete-event simulation: a review

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to provide a contribution to the area of behavioural operations management (OM) by identifying key challenges in the use of discrete-event simulation (DES) to model people’s behaviour in OM.

Design/methodology/approach

A systematic literature review method is undertaken in order to assess the nature and scale of all publications relevant to the topic of modelling people’s behaviour with DES in OM within the period 2005-2017.

Findings

The publications identified by the literature review reveal key challenges to be addressed when aiming to increase the use of DES to model people’s behaviour. The review also finds a variety of strategies in use to model people’s behaviour using DES in OM applications.

Research limitations/implications

A systematic literature review method is undertaken in order to include all publications relevant to the topic of modelling people’s behaviour with DES in the OM domain but some articles may not have been captured.

Originality/value

The literature review provides a resource in terms of identifying exemplars of the variety of methods used to model people’s behaviour using DES in OM. The study indicates key challenges for increasing the use of DES in this area and builds on current DES development methodologies by presenting a methodology for modelling people’s behaviour in OM.

Citation

Greasley, A. and Owen, C. (2018), "Modelling people’s behaviour using discrete-event simulation: a review", International Journal of Operations & Production Management, Vol. 38 No. 5, pp. 1228-1244. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJOPM-10-2016-0604