Publication Date:
2011-08-24
Description:
GREMEX is a man-machine management simulation game of a research and development project. It can be used to depict a project from just after the development of the project plan through the final construction phase. The GREMEX computer programs are basically a program evaluation and review technique (PERT) reporting system. In the usual PERT program, the operator inputs each month the amount of work performed on each activity and the computer does the bookkeeping to determine the expected completion date of the project. GREMEX automatically assumes that all activities due to be worked in the current month will be worked. GREMEX predicts new durations (and costs) each month based on management actions taken by the players and the contractor's abilities. Each activity is assigned the usual cost and duration estimates but must also be assigned three parameters that relate to the probability that the time estimate is correct, the probability that the cost estimate is correct, and the probability of technical success. Management actions usually can be expected to change these probabilities. For example, use of overtime or double shifts in research and development work will decrease duration and increase cost by known proportions and will also decrease the probability of technical success due to an increase in the likelihood of accidents or mistakes. These re-estimating future events and assigning probability factors provides life to the model. GREMEX is not a production job for project management. GREMEX is a game that can be used to train management personnel in the administration of research and development type projects. GREMEX poses no 'best way' to manage a project. The emphasis of GREMEX is to expose participants to many of the factors involved in decision making when managing a project in a government research and development environment. A management team can win the game by surpassing cost, schedule, and technical performance goals established when the simulation began. The serious management experimenter can use GREMEX to explore the results of management methods they could not risk in real life. GREMEX can operate with any research and development type project with up to 15 subcontractors and produces reports simulating monthly or quarterly updates of the project PERT network. Included with the program is a data deck for simulation of a fictitious spacecraft project. Instructions for substituting other projects are also included. GREMEX is written in FORTRAN IV for execution in the batch mode and has been implemented on an IBM 360 with a central memory requirement of approximately 350K (decimal) of 8 bit bytes. The GREMEX system was developed in 1973.
Keywords:
ADMINISTRATION AND MANAGEMENT
Type:
GSC-11512
Format:
text
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