A simulation study on coordination strategies: Decision cycle-time perspective

Abstract

This research aims at gaining insight into how much of the cycle-time of organizational decisions can be reduced through coordination of PC-based modeling activities along the process as well as finding out which of the coordination mechanisms can most reduce this cycle-time. We present a research model in which various types of coordination strategies are proposed depending upon types of interdependencies among user-developed decision models. Based on the research model, simulation models are presented to test the effect of the proposed strategies on cycle-time of organizational decision-making process. ERP implementation by major corporations has shown that IS investment in cycle-time reduction has been focused on the coordination of transactional business applications. The simulation results help researchers and practitioners shift their focus to the coordination of user-developed decision models. © 2001 Elsevier Science Inc. All rights reserved.