October 30, 2006 -- The INFORMS Simulation Society Research Workshop is a new forum for researchers to exchange ideas and results and to discuss new developments in the simulation of stochastic process and discrete-event systems. The first workshop will be held in July 2007 at the Fontainebleau, France campus of INSEAD.

The theme of the first Workshop is “Simulation for better decisions in an uncertain world”. The goal is to bring together leading researchers working in a variety of theoretical, empirical, application and implementation domains in order to reflect on a common theme: How can simulation most effectively support better decisions? There may be several approaches to responding. One approach is to examine the frontiers of research, including simulation optimization techniques from both continuous and discrete ranking and selection approaches, uncertainty analysis, the robustness of decisions to modelling assumptions, implementation issues, and special considerations that arise in specific applications. Another approach is to examine the demands being placed on existing simulations tools that are used in a variety of applications. The workshop will try to examine both approaches.

The content of the workshop will differ from typical conference sessions in a couple of ways. It will differ from a typical simulation analysis type session in that the relationship with, and the importance to, the original decision-making context is to be emphasized. It will differ from a typical semiconductor or health or other applications track session in that we hope to highlight critical features of the decision-making environment that require special needs that may not be well addressed by current research, or currently available tools. The goal is to look more closely at the interface of the broad decision-making environment, how simulation fits into the decision process, and areas where simulation-related research has breakthroughs, or where simulation-related research must still be developed, in order to help support more effective decisions.

The workshop will provide a balance of focused, one-hour invited sessions as well as a number of more traditional conference sessions with contributed sessions. Abstracts for proposed sessions and panel sessions will be refereed as the final program is put in place by the program committee, and the workshop size is limited to 60 people. Coffee breaks between sessions will allow continued discussions.

The third day will put the ‘work’ into the workshop, and participants will discuss in focused subgroups to assess the state of the art of relevant research areas, to identify current research needs, and prioritize key areas for further research on simulation as a supportive tool for decision making.

Simulation Methodology

Continuous stochastic optimization 
Discrete optimization with simulation, including ranking and selection 
Optimization heuristics 
Stochastic programming 
Experimental designs for simulation 
Efficiency improvement techniques 
Technology transfer and implementation 
Market driven-demand for specific decision support features 
 
Decision Methodology 

Models of uncertainty 
Bayesian and classical uncertainty analysis 
Input modeling 
Inference for stochastic models 
Simulation in the decision-making process 
Model validation 
 
Special Needs that Arise in Applications 

Operations management 
Health technology assessment or health care service delivery 
Hi-tech production systems and supply chains - semiconductor and bio-production 
Finance and risk management 
Service delivery systems 

How to Propose and Extended Abstract/Presentation

Submit a 3-5 page extended abstract, formatted in the Winter Simulation Conference style (http://www.wintersim.org/authkit.htm, changing the file header to state INFORMS Simulation Society Research Workshop 2007, rather than WSC and the names of the editors for that conference).

The proposed extended abstract should clearly identify the role of simulation in a decision-making environment, or the special needs of decision-making that depend upon simulation analysis for input.

To speak in the workshop requires that an extended abstract be submitted and accepted by the program committee into the program. Participation in the workshop, for those that don’t have formal presentations, is welcome but limited to the capacity of the workshop (up to 60 participants total).

Email proposals to: SimConf07@insead.edu before February 1, 2007. Emailing them earlier is encouraged and early acceptance is possible. Acceptance decisions for extended abstracts will be given in March 2007, earlier where possible when extended abstract are submitted earlier.

How to Propose a Contributed Session

A contributed session will be organized with three speakers, each of whom must submit a contributed extended abstract. Please contact the conference coordinators with a proposed session title and session theme, and the names of three speakers, along with a few paragraphs that describe the main issues that are raised by the session (e.g., the methodological focus, or application focus). The list of three speakers can include the person that proposes the session.

The proposal should clearly identify the role of simulation in a decision-making environment, or the special needs of decision-making that depend upon simulation analysis for input. The session could focus, for example, on technical issues that address known problems in application areas. Or the session could describe an application area, from multiple perspectives, and highlight current successes with simulation along with identifying needs for further research in order to close the theory/practice gap.

Email proposals to: SimConf07@insead.edu before February 1, 2007 (earlier is preferred, to allow more time for speakers to get their extended abstracts in by February 1, too). The Program Chairs will also assemble sessions based upon the extended abstracts that are submitted.

Special Issue of ACM TOMACS Associated with Workshop

A special issue of ACM Transactions on Modeling and Computer Simulation (TOMACS) will be dedicated to publishing full papers linked with presentations from the workshop. Full papers will still pass through the full refereeing process.

If you would like to organize a session, please send an email to SimConf07@insead.edu, or Steve Chick (stephen.chick_at_insead.edu) or Enver Yücesan (enver.yucesan_at_insead.edu).

Conference Chair
Steve Chick
INSEAD
Technology and Operations Management Area
Boulevard to Constance
77305 Fontainebleau CEDEX
FRANCE
Email: stephen.chick@insead.edu