Strategies for simulating – investigating and improving the use of simulation at British Airways OR

Many organisations have seen the use of simulation evolve, often in something of a piecemeal fashion. This may lead to some deficiences in way that simulation is employed. Therefore, it is useful to step back and reflect upon how the application of simulation could be improved. This paper describes such a project in which a simulation strategy was devised for the British Airways Operational Research group. The study involved a series of interviews with the operational research analysts and their customers from which a number of issues emerged. Proposals for addressing these issues were developed and refined through further discussions.