The focus of our research is on the practice of simulation, looking at how people go about developing and using simulation models and investigating how the practice of simulation can be improved. As a result, our interests lie in the methodology and methods employed in simulation studies. We use a range of simulation methods (discrete-event simulation, system dynamics and agent-based modelling) and apply them across many application domains (e.g., manufacturing, services, health, supply chain, utilities). Through our work, we aspire to support stakeholder involvement in simulation studies and aim to establish our research in client-oriented modelling.

Through our simulation tools, we work with organisations by running stakeholder-oriented workshops to help them understand and make better decisions. The most recent organisations we have worked with include the East Midlands Ambulance Service and Leicestershire County Council (the SIMTEGR8 project).

Current and recent research projects have encompassed the following themes:

Members

• Antuela Tako – RIG Leader, Reader in Operational Research
• Duncan Robertson – Lecturer
• Stewart Robinson – Professor and Dean of the SBE
• Rahul Kumar - Lecturer
• Anastasia Gogi – Research Associate
• Heather Callaghan – PhD Student
• Mohammed Ibrahim-Shire - PhD Student
• Naoum Tsiopsas - PhD Student
• Hanjing Zhang - PhD Student

Associate Members

• Thomas Jun - Lecturer, Design School, Loughborough University
• Johanna Leigh - Aeronautical and Automotive Engineering, Loughborough University
• Anna Ozolina – PhD Student, Nottingham Business School, Nottingham Trent University
• Lisa Jackson – Professor, Aeronautical and Automotive Engineering
• Sarah Dunnet – Senior Lecturer Aeronautical and Automotive Engineering
• Fahim Ahmed – Associate Lecturer, Strathclyde University
• Niniet Arvitrida – Lecturer, Department of Industrial Engineering, Institut Teknologi Sepuluh Nopember

Below is a brief summary of activities over the past two years, including publications, conferences, research funding, seminars and impact generation:

Peer-reviewed journals

• McHaney R, Tako A, Robinson S (2018) Using LIWC to choose simulation approaches: A feasibility study, Decision Support Systems, 2018, doi.org/10.1016/j.dss.2018.04.002. In Press.
• Kotiadis K. and Tako A. (2018) “Facilitated post-model coding in Discrete Event Simulation (DES): A case study in Healthcare” accepted by the European Journal of Operational Research (ABS 4). In Press
• Jun, G, Robinson, SL, Ibrahim Shire, M (2018) The Application of System Dynamics Modelling to System Safety Improvement: present use and future potential, Safety Science, 106, pp.104-120, ISSN: 0925-7535. DOI: 10.1016/j.ssci.2018.03.010.
• Robinson, SL, Taylor, S, Monks, T, Currie, C, Onggo, S, Kunc, M (2018) Strengthening the Reporting of Empirical Simulation Studies: Introducing the STRESS guidelines., Journal of Simulation, ISSN: 1747-7778. DOI: 10.1080/17477778.2018.1442155.
• Arvitrida, NI, Tako, AA, Robertson, DA, Robinson, S (2017) Duration of Collaboration from a Market Perspective: An Agent-based Modeling Approach, Operations and Supply Chain Management, 10(3), pp.149-159.
• Robinson, SL, Jahangirian, M, Taylor, S, Young, T (2017) Key Performance Indicators for Successful Simulation Projects, Journal of the Operational Research Society, 68(7), pp.747-765, ISSN: 0160-5682. DOI: 10.1057/jors.2016.1.
• Robinson, SL, Dimitriou, S, Kotiadis, K (2016) Addressing the Sample Size Problem in Behavioural Operational Research: Simulating the Newsvendor Problem, Journal of the Operational Research Society, 68(3), pp.253-268, ISSN: 0160-5682. DOI: 10.1057/s41274-016-0016-3.
• Tako, AA and Kotiadis, K (2015) PartiSim: A multi-methodology framework to support facilitated simulation modelling in healthcare, European Journal of Operational Research, 244(2), pp.555-564. (OPEN ACCESS)
• Gogi, A, Tako, AA, Robinson, SL, (2015) An Experimental Investigation into the Role of Simulation Models in Generating Insights, European Journal of Operational Research.
• Monks, T., Robinson, S. and Kotiadis, K. (2015) Can involving clients in simulation studies help them solve their future problems? A transfer of learning experiment. European Journal of Operational Research.(OPEN ACCESS)
• Robinson, S. (2015). Modelling without Queues: Adapting Discrete-Event Simulation for Service Operations. Journal of Simulation, 9, pp. 195-205. doi:10.1057/jos.2014.21
• Tako, A.A. and Robinson, S. (2015). Is Simulation in Health Different? Journal of the Operational Research Society, 66 (4), pp. 602-614. doi:10.1057/jors.2014.25.
• Tako, AA, Kotiadis, K, Vasilakis, C, Miras, A, le Roux, CW (2014) Improving patient waiting times: a simulation study of an obesity care service, BMJ Quality and Safety, 23, pp.373-9381. (OPEN ACCESS)
• Monks, T. Robinson, S. and Kotiadis, K. (2014). Learning from Discrete-Event Simulation: Exploring the High Involvement Hypothesis. European Journal of Operational Research, 235, pp. 195–205.
• Robinson, S., Worthington, C., Burgess, N. and Radnor, Z.J. (2014).  Facilitated Modelling with Discrete-Event Simulation: Reality or Myth? European Journal of Operational Research, forthcoming. 
• Kotiadis, K, Tako, A.A., Vasilakis, C (2014) A Participative and Facilitative Conceptual Modelling Framework for Discrete Event Simulation Studies in Healthcare, Journal of the Operational Research Society, 65, pp.197-213.
• Tako, AA (2014) Exploring the model development process in discrete-event simulation: Insights from six expert modellers, Journal of the Operational Research Society, 66, 747–760.
• Collet, F., Robertson, DA, and Lup, D. (2014) ‘When Does Brokerage Matter?  Citation Impact of Research Teams in an Emerging Academic Field’, Strategic Organization, 12(3): 157-179

Books

• Robinson, S. (2014). Simulation: The Practice of Model Development and Use, 2^nd ed. Palgrave, London.

Conference proceedings

• Tsioptsias, N, Tako, AA, Robinson, S (2018) Can we learn from wrong simulation models? A preliminary experimental study on user learning. In Anagnostou, A, Meskarian, R, Robertson, D.  (eds) Proceedings of the Operational Research Society Simulation Workshop 2018 (SW18), Stratford, Worcestershire.
• Robinson, S (2018) A tutorial on simulation conceptual modeling. In Winter Simulation Conference, Proceedings - Winter Simulation Conference, Las Vegas, pp.565-579, ISBN: 9781538634288. DOI: 10.1109/WSC.2017.8247815.
• Ibrahim Shire, M, Jun, Robinson, (2017) Simulating the dynamic effect of pharmacy staff workload on safety and performance. In 12th International Symposium on Human Factors in Organizational Design and Management, Banff, Alberta, Canada, pp.225-231.
• Tsioptsias, N, Tako, AA, Robinson, S (2016) Model validation and testing in simulation: a literature review. In Hardy, B, Qazi, A, Ravizza, S (ed) 5th Student Conference on Operational Research (SCOR 2016), Nottingham University.
• Zhang, H, Tako, AA, Jackson, L, Liu, J (2016) Simulation Combined Approach to Police Patrol Services Staffing. In Hardy, B, Qazi, A, Ravizza, S (ed) 5th Student Conference on Operational Research (SCOR 2016), Nottingham University.
• Kotiadis, K and Tako, AA (2016) A Facilitation Workshop For The Implementation Stage: A Case Study In Health Care. In Anagnostou, A, Hoad, K, Kunc, M (ed) Proceedings of the Operational Research Society Simulation Workshop 2016 (SW16), Stratford, Worcestershire, pp.165-174.
• McHaney, R, Tako, AA, Robinson, S (2016) A Linguistic Examination Of Problem Solving Approaches In Simulation. In Anagnostou, A, Hoad, K, Kunc, M (ed) Proceedings of the Operational Research Society Simulation Workshop 2016 (SW16), Stratford, Worcestershire, pp.113-123.
• Zhang, H, Jackson, L, Tako, AA, Liu, J (2016) A Simulation of a Police Patrol Service System With Multi-Grade Time-Varying Incident Arrivals. In Anagnostou, A, Hoad, K, Kunc, M (ed) Proceedings of the Operational Research Society Simulation Workshop 2016 (SW16), https://www.theorsociety.com/Pages/Conferences/SW16/SW16.aspx, Stratford, Worcestershire, pp.103-112.
• Arvitrida, N, Robinson, S, Tako, AA, Robertson, D (2016) An Agent-Based Model Of Supply Chain Collaboration: Investigating Manufacturer Loyalty. In Anagnostou, A, Hoad, K, Kunc, M (ed) Proceedings of the Operational Research Society Simulation Workshop 2016 (SW16), Stratford, Worcestershire, pp.35-44.
• Arvitrida, N.I., Robinson, S. and Tako, A.A. (2015). How do Competition and Collaboration Affect Supply Chain Performance? An Agent Based Modeling Approach. Proceedings of the 2015 Winter Simulation Conference.
• Ahmed, F., Robinson, S. and Tako, A.A. (2014).Using the Structred Analysis and Design Technique (SADT) in Simulation Conceptual Modeling. Proceedings of the 2014 Winter Simulation Conference (A. Tolk, S. D. Diallo, I. O. Ryzhov, L. Yilmaz, S. Buckley, and J. A. Miller, eds.), IEEE, Piscataway, NJ, pp. 1038-1049.
• Gogi, A, Tako, AA, Robinson, S (2014) A preliminary study on the role of simulation models in generating insights. Proceedings of the 2014 Winter Simulation Conference (A. Tolk, S. D. Diallo, I. O. Ryzhov, L. Yilmaz, S. Buckley, and J. A. Miller, eds.), IEEE, Piscataway, NJ, pp. 3618-3629.
• McHaney, R, Tako, AA, Robinson, SL (2014) Model Building In System Dynamics And Discrete-Event Simulation: A Comparison Of Analysts’ Language. In Onggo, S, Heavey, C, Monks, T, Tjahjono, B, van der Zee, D-J (ed) Operational Research Society Simulation Workshop 2014 (SW14), Proceedings of the Operational Research Society Simulation Workshop 2014 (SW14), Worcestershire, UK, pp.1-13.
• Gogi, A, Tako, AA, Robinson, S (2014) Generating Insights: The Effectiveness Of Dicrete-Event Simulation Models In Creative Problem Solving. In Onggo, BS, Heavey, C, Monks, T, Tjahjono, B, van der Zee, D-J (ed) Operational Research Society Simulation Workshop 2014 (SW14), Proceedings of the Operational Research Society Simulation Workshop 2014 (SW14), Worcestershire, UK, pp.133-142.
• Ahmed, F, Robinson, S, Tako, AA (2014) Conceptual Modelling: Lessons From Computer Science. In Onggo, S, Heavey, C, Monks, T, Tjahjono, B, van der Zee, D-J (ed) Operational Research Society Simulation Workshop 2014 (SW14), Proceedings of the 7th Operational Research Society Simulation Workshop 2012 (SW12), Worcestershire, UK, pp.154-166.

Other Activities

• The Simulation Practices RIG is hosting a Decision Sciences Workshop and Lecture, featuring Professor Paul Fishwick, in association with the UK’s Operational Research Society Simulation Special Interest Group (12 June 2018).
• Stewart Robinson and Antuela Tako were invited members of the “Stakeholder Engagement” panel at the Simulation Workshop Conference 2018 (SW18), March 2018.
• Antuela Tako was invited member of the “Model Development Strategies” panel at the Simulation Workshop Conference 2018 (SW18), March 2018.
• Duncan Robertson was Co-Programme Chair for the Operational Research Society Simulation Workshop, SW18.
• Stewart Robinson was Track Chair for the Introductory Tutorials for the 2017 Winter Simulation Conference (Washington DC).
• Antuela Tako was Programme Committee member for the Healthcare Applications track for the 2016 Winter Simulation Conference (California).
• Stewart Robinson is a member of the Board for the Operational Research Society Simulation Workshop, SW14, SW16 and SW18.
• Stewart Robinson is immediate past president of the Operational Research Society, UK, 2014-2015.
• Stewart Robinson gave a keynote address at the Industrial Engineering and Service Science conference in Yogyakarta, Indonesia in September 2015.  The topic of the lecture was Operational Research in the Age of Big Data.  He also presented a guest lecture at two universities in Yogyakarta.
• Antuela Tako gave a keynote for the Simulation stream at the Young OR19 Conference, Aston Business School, Birmingham, September 2015.
• Stewart Robinson has contributed a chapter to a US Department of Defense handbook on simulation conceptual modelling.
• Hanjing Zhang gave a presentation at the Criminal Justice Special Interest Group of the Operational Research Society, UK, 2016.
• Stewart Robinson was invited to present papers at the Winter Simulation Conference 2013 (Washington DC) on conceptual modelling, and simulation and analytics education.
• Stewart Robinson was a member of the Board for the Operational Research Society Simulation Workshop SW14, April 2014, 16
• Hanjing Zhang gave a presentation at the 27^th EURO Conference, Glasgow 2015
• Hanjing Zhang gave a presentation at the Young OR 19 Conference, Aston Business School, Birmingham, September 2015.
• Niniet Arvitrida gave a presentation at the Young OR 19 Conference, Aston Business School, Birmingham, September 2015.

Funding

• Antuela Tako received funding (18K, FEC £45K) from Leicestershire County Council to work on phase 2 of the SIMTEGR8 project (with Stewart Robinson). The project evaluated four interventions aimed at reducing emergency hospital admissions of old and frail people. The project uses facilitated workshops to help the health and social care services in Leicestershire improve their services. For more information please visit the following link: www.simtegr8.org.
• Stewart Robinson has received funding (£100K) from the Enterprise Project Fund for the SIMTEGR8 project (with Zoe Radnor). The project is evaluating interventions to reduce emergency hospital admissions among older people and improve their experience.  The project used rapid modelling techniques and facilitated workshop sessions to identify ways of improving the interventions. Collaborators: Leicestershire County Council, Healthwatch Leicestershire and SIMUL8 Corporation
• Stewart Robinson has received funding (£3K) from SIMUL8 Corporation for the PhD Project: “What and How can we Learn from Wrong Models?”
• Antuela Tako has received funding (£3K) from SIMUL8 Corporation for the PhD Project: “Generating insight from simulation models.”

Past Seminars

• • 5 May 2017, 2-3.30pm : Christina Jane Philips from Bangor University, will be giving a seminar on the use of participative simulation in a complex pharmaceutical manufacturing environment using the PartiSim© framework and how the modelling outcomes were used in partnership with the senior management to set the strategic agenda for the factory. 
  • Roundtable meeting, led by Dr Antuela Tako, 25 Nov 2016
  • Professor Juite Wang,  National Chung Hsing University, Modeling and Analysis of Mobile Application Services: The Perspective of Taiwan's Mobile Network Operators, 19 October 2016
  • Professor Sally Brailsford, University of Southampton Business School: Modelling human behaviour in healthcare systems: is it possible, and why should we do it?, 4 May 2016
  • Roger McHaney, Kansas State University: Little Words in Big Data: How Linguistic Clues Help Analysts Read Between the Lines in Problem Statements, 14 April 2016
  • Hanjing Zhang: A simulation of a police patrol service system with multi-grade, time-varying incident arrivals, 16 March 2016
  • Niniet Indah Arvitrida: Competition and Collaboration in Supply Chains: An agent based modelling approach, 26 November 2015
  • Dr Peer-Olaf Siebers, Computer Science, Nottingham University: Modelling and Simulation of Rail Passengers to Evaluate Methods to Reduce Dwell Times Joint meeting with East Midlands Simulation Special Interest Group, 19 November 2015
  • Dr Simon Taylor, Brunel University: Big Data Analytics and Simulation: Should We Have our Head in the Clouds?, 6 March 2015
  • 'Simulating Societies: A Computational Approach to Social Science' with Professor Nigel Gilbert, Centre for Research in Social Simulation, University of Surrey: 6 March 2014 (12.30 - 2.00)
  • 3rd East Midlands Simulation Group meeting in May 2013, Loughborough University.

Activities

• Stewart Robinson is giving a keynote for the Introductory Tutorial Track at the 2018 Winter Simulation Conference (Sweden).
• Antuela Tako is Co-Chair for the Simulation Education Track, 2018 Winter Simulation Conference (Sweden).
• Stewart Robinson is a member of the Board for the Operational Research Society Simulation Workshop SW20, April 2020.
• Antuela Tako is Co-Chair of the Operational Research Society Simulation Workshop SW20, April 2020.
• Antuela Tako is Director of the NATCOR PhD Simulation Course, Loughborough University.
• Antuela Tako is Associate Editor of Journal of the Operational Research Society (ABS 3 star).
• Antuela Tako is Editorial Board Member of the Journal of Simulation.
• Antuela Tako is Full Member of the EPSRC Peer Review College Member (February 2018- present), previously Associate Member since November 2016). 

Papers in progress

• A qualitative analysis of model development in discrete-event simulation and system dynamics
• A case-study application of PartiSim to explore efficiencies of an Ambulance Service
• Exploring group decision making processes in facilitated simulation workshops: a qualitative analysis
• The SIMTEGR8 approach: Using facilitated simulation to evaluate integrated health and social care services
• Agent-based modelling of behavioural and inter-firm systems, connected to psychological and strategic simulation.
• An Agent-Based Model of Knowledge Transferal
• An Agent-Based Model of Inter-Firm Competition

2017-2018 SP-RIG Events:

Doctoral students join a lively and supportive community of research students, becoming an integral part of the School’s research culture. We welcome approaches from suitably qualified graduates, particularly those with a relevant Master's degree and sufficient funding, who may wish to undertake research projects in the specialist areas of the group, leading to a PhD.  As a research student, you will be encouraged to attend conferences to present your work and develop joint publications with your supervisors.

The group has great supervisory experience and is keen to supervise high quality research students in members’ specialist research fields. Recognition of the quality of supervision offered by the group members has resulted in funding for doctoral students from Research Councils. For students interested in further information on potential PhD projects and supervisors, please stay tuned to our webpages.

Alternatively, you may also click on one of the options below for more info:

• Explore doctoral programmes
• Application process
• Studentships available