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Snapshot
Automotive industry is extremely sensitive to market dynamics whether internal or external. Such sensitivity requires highly qualified calibers to manage and run the business with all its complicated mechanism. "Off the job training" has become an essential for developing skills in addition to job experience. However, till now, most training tools are rather theoretical or maybe case based workshops. Time and dynamism were factors though very important yet cannot be covered in traditional training techniques. A simulation is an experiential learning exercise. The emphasis is on practice and active learning within a cross-functional business experience. The players provide the living detail through their own deliberations, actions and interactions with competitors and the market. The exercise represents a series of interconnected cases.
Every decision period represents a new case, a new set circumstances. the students do not need to role play "AutoDynamics©" is simulation software, which has been developed for the automotive industry in Egypt. it used Vensim® software in model building, and a visual basic interface program aiming to introduce training software that applies simulation methodology to this market. The model falls into four dimensions; operating dimension which represents all important decisions related to automotive industry, marketing dimension representing all important decision that need to be taken by marketing department in an automotive company, finance dimension representing all important financial decision that should be taken by a financial department in an automotive company, and human resource dimension representing all important human resource decisions for the company the core of the software focused on setting company objectives and strategy.
The Software has been validated in tow stages; model validation, and interface validation. Experts from automotive industry have been interviewed to validate the software. Interviewed experts believed that model is very close to reality to the degree made them satisfied enough of by the model's building, especially that this model is designed for a training purpose. They were also satisfied enough by model's dimensions; also they still believe that the customer services should be added as a fifth dimension. They appreciate the degree the model achieves its learning objectives and they believe it reasonably covers the targeted topic. They expressed much pleasure of running the program; since it allowed them to fully understand decision making and business planning process.
Developing "AutoDynamics©" as a training tool for the automotive industry applying simulation methodology was important to be introduced to the Egyptian market. Continue both vertical and horizontal developing over this research is recommended. A vertical developing of newer version of "AutoDynamics©" could include for examples the excluded variables such as exchange rate, governmental rules, and overall economic situation. A fifth dimension for manufacturing could also be added to cover the need of some local assembling companies. Horizontal developing of other models for different Egyptian industries is also important. Pharmaceutical, Oil, banking, and fast moving consumable goods are examples for those industries.
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