1. Resources
  2. Published Research

Published Research

The book "Project Management: Processes, Methodologies, and Economics, 3rd Edition" has been published in 2016. It includes a chapter that discusses the use of simulation and the PTB software and is recommended for project management courses.

 

Research based on the PTB™ was conducted at different universities around the world among them are: MIT, Technion, Pennsylvania State University, Drexel University and Australian National University. Some notable published papers:

 

  • "Simulation-Based Training: From a Traditional Course to Remote Learning - the Covid19 Effect"

    The University of Bergamo switched from regular classes to online classes due to the Covid19 pandemic during March 2020. In this paper, we focus on the lessons learned from switching a project management course that combines traditional lectures with Simulation-Based Training (SBT) to an online course with the same structure, same curriculum and the same teaching team. Lessons learned are based on the opportunity to compare the two methods of teaching and their learning outcomes. Based on the analysis, conclusions about the future of this course and similar courses are presented. By Avraham Shtub, Matteo Kalchschmidt, and Albachiara Boffelli, November 29, 2020. Higher Education Studies; Vol. 11, No. 1; 2021, ISSN 1925-4741 E-ISSN 1925-475X, Published by Canadian Center of Science and Education.

  • "Combining Simulation-based Training and Flipped Classroom in Project Management Learning"

    Every year, countless projects are finished late, go over budget or end up being cancelled, often because their project managers and project teams lack the necessary tools and techniques to support their decision-making. Students of project management courses around the world have difficulty integrating the different knowledge areas of project management, after studying each knowledge area separately. Students then struggle and even fail when it comes to applying these concepts in a real-life project. Simulation-based training contributes to the solution of these problems by linking the concepts learned during a project management course and providing the experience of managing a simulated project that serves as preparation for real life. The objective of this research is to study the impact of simulation-based training and flipped classroom methodology on students learning project management. The contribution of this research is twofold. First, from a theoretical perspective, simulation-based training and flipped classroom methodology literature is enriched and broadened by applying both teaching tools. Second, from a practical perspective, an improvement in results, satisfaction and lessons learned was found when using simulation-based training under flipped classroom methodology compared to simulation-based training in a traditional classroom. By Ivan Strygacz & Avraham Sthub, August 20 2018. Higher Education Studies, v8 n3 p85-93 2018, Copyright for this article is retained by the author(s), with first publication rights granted to the journal.

  • "Learning by Doing Gamification and Simulation-Based Training in Project Management"

    This papers demonstrates how competition and simulation can improve learning. By Solan D. and Shtub A., November 2016. This article is provided with permission of the Institute of Industrial and Systems Engineers from the November 2016 issue of ISE, Copyright©2016 Institute of Industrial and Systems Engineers. All rights reserved..

  • "EMI: Engineering and Management Integrator"

    This papers discusses the relationship between the product design and the project plan. Careful management of this relationship is crucial to the success of any project that deals with new product development. A new approach for integrating systems engineering and project management methodologies is presented along with a use case of developing a component for a commercial aircraft. By Masin M., Dubinsky Y., Iluz M., Shindin E. and Avraham Shtub, November 2015.

  • "New Product Development Experience from Distance Learning and Simulation Based Training"

    This paper presents our experience teaching New Product Development (NPD) to students from several universities members of an international school network. A combination of lectures, problem solving and hands-on experience provided by a Simulation Based Learning platform made it possible for students from universities around the globe to work as NPD teams that develop new products in a virtual environment.. By Shtub, A., June 2015.

  • "Shared Awareness among Project Team Members through Role-based Simulation during Planning–A Comparative Study"

    This study investigates how levels of engagement by project teams, early on in the project life cycle, influence the quality of project plans and team performance. It demonstrates that creating shared awareness among project teams can be achieved by the use of a project management simulator. Two experiments conducted at Technion and MIT test the hypothesis. By Iluz, M., Moser, B., & Shtub, A., Procedia Computer Science, 44, 295-304, 2015 Conference on Systems Engineering Research

  • "Project Management for Families of Products"

    This presentation deals with families of products and presents the use of the PTB technology to managing a family of products in an Aerospace and Defense company, Gordon Center, 2015

  • "The Impact of Simulation Based Planning of the Fuzzy Front End Stage of a Project"

    A methodology for using simulation based planning in the early stages of the project life cycle is presented, along with the tools used in supporting the decision making process at this stage. The investment of time and resources in better planning at this stage leads to an increased robustness of meeting the project goals: performance, duration and cost, as well as better risk management. Published by Michal Iluz, Bryan Moser, Josef Oehmen, Avraham Shtub, 8th Israel International Conference on Systems Engineering, March 2015

  • "Simulation Based Planning of the Fuzzy Front End Stage of a Project"

    This paper presents an innovative approach for the initial project life cycle stage. It includes a methodology and tools that provide an enhancement of the decision making process when the design of a new product is considered. Two technologies are described: one deals with the project management aspects while the second deals with the system architecture aspects. The integration between the tools is displayed along with the improvement in the effectiveness and efficiency of the funneling process. Published by Michal Iluz and Avraham Shtub, Elsevier B.V., The JCIRP 25th Design Conference Innovative Product Creation, March 2015

  • "Integrating Traditional And Innovative Value-Focused Models In Project Management Teaching"

    This paper describes a teaching approach that focuses on project value. While the importance of maximizing project value is well accepted, in many cases it is not incorporated into text books and teaching material. Using a simulation based training approach that includes the measurement for project value is described, along with examples and a sample course structure. Published by Izack Cohen, The Journal of Modern Project Management, January-April 2015

  • "Simulation-Based Education in Supply Chain and Project Management"

    This research presents how the PTB simulator can be used as a teaching tool and a decision support system. It's used to develop a project plan that minimizes cost while satisfying different constraints. Published by A. Tzimerman. et al., in INFORMS Tutorials in Operational Research, Bridging Data and Decisions, October 27, 2014

  • "Combination of Tools And Techniques for Project Teams to Enhance Performance"

    This research presents new keys to improve the performances in the management of complex projects. It provides an analysis of the project management software simulator Project Team Builder (PTB) used stand alone or with Microsoft Project. Francesca Coffani, Faculty of Industrial Engineering and Management, Polytechnic University of Milan

  • "Integration Management: Learning to see the Big Picture"

    This paper presents the challenges in teaching integration management. It describes an experiment in which simulation based training, using the PTB project management simulator, was used to teach project integration management. By M.Iluz, A.Shtub, International Conference on Systems Engineering, Herzliyya, Israel, 2013

 

 

  • "Implementation of Lean Engineering Practices in Projects and Programs through Simulation Based Training"

    This paper describes the experience in using Simulation Based Training (SBT) and in particular, its contribution to the implementation of Lean Management Practices (“Lean Enablers”) among project team members and stakeholders in two different industries in order to lead to better project outcomes in terms of time, performance, cost, and stakeholders' approval. Published by Shtub, Iluz, Gersing, Oehman, Dubinsky, in PM World Journal ,Vol. III, Issue III - March 2014

 

 

 

  • "Adding Value to Earned Value Analysis"

    This paper discusses some ideas, tools and techniques that may help project managers cope with uncertainty. It focuses on new ways to teach students and practitioners the Earned Value concept, which is discussed in the Project Management Institute, A Guide to the Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK® Guide) and is supported by the Project Team Builder™ (PTB™). Published by Vanhoucke, M. and A. Shtub, in PM World Today , Vol. XIII, Issue I, January 2011

 

  • "Simulator-based Team Training to Share Resources in a Matrix Structure Organization"

    Project management in a matrix organization is complex because project managers share the organization resources(budget and human), and cooperation between managers is critical for effective resource sharing. A new paradigm for a simulation-based team learning is presented. Published by Parush, A., L. Davidovitch and A. Shtub, in IEEE Transactions on Engineering Management, Vol. 57, No. 2, May 2010, 288-300