Task 3 Vensim Model

A software engineer is managing a new software development project. The project plan suggests that in order to finish the project on schedule, it is necessary to have 35 engineers working on the project. If the number of engineers in the projects falls below this target, the project manager must hire new engineers to the project, a process which takes on average 6 weeks. The project manager estimates that engineers remain on the project for an average period of 1 year before leaving for another project within the same company or to another organization.

Required:

(a) Create a Vensim model for this system and use it to simulate the system. You must submit a screenshot of your Vensim model and its outputs.

Use the rate equations and initial values given below:

Rate Equations:

• Engineers Hiring rate = Engineers Gap[Number of engineers]/Engineers hiring delay[weeks]

• Engineers gap = Engineers target-Number of Engineers

• Leaving rate[Engineers/week]=Number of Engineers/Average stay period[weeks]

Initial Values

• Engineers hiring delay = 6 weeks

• Average stay period = 52 weeks

• Engineers target = 35

• Initial level of the engineers stock at the beginning of the simulation period = 28

(b) Based on your Vensim model results, discuss how the system will behave in the long-run, i.e. how well the system matches the objectives and, if appropriate, suggest ways in which the system behaviours could be improved in order to achieve the objectives