Importance

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Abstract

A management training simulation system and method are disclosed. A method in accordance with one aspect of the invention is implemented on a computer and represents changes in design opportunities for objects in a simulated environment. The design opportunities can represent, for example, new or changed features in a product made by a particular firm. The objects are defined through an attribute-characteristic representation. A multipeaked value function is used to process designs throughout the simulation instead of a distance-value function as in conventional simulations. At some time during the simulation, the domain of one or more attributes, the number of attributes, or both are changed to thereby alter the set of valid designs for the objects in the simulation. Such changes can simulate technological advances including incremental and radical innovations, government regulation, shortages in raw materials, union strikes, and the like. Participants in the simulation acquire limited information concerning the marketplace to guide their going-forward decisions, preferably at a cost. In a further aspect of the invention, the participants actions are monitored and the performance of each participant is gauged against predetermined criteria. A network preferably interconnects plural simulation participants to a central computer which runs the simulation.

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First Claim