The concept of the Business Simulation Laboratory derives from Dr Robertson's experience in setting up and operating a very complex suite of Engineering Laboratory tests for his PhD

The Business Simulation Laboratory is the ONLY way that a high value ERP implementation can be accomplished while at the same time eliminating risk to the business -- provided it is well designed, well implemented and well operated within the framework of a tough contractual environment as created by our Engineering Procurement approach

We offer a range of services with regard to advice with regard to the establishment and operation of a Business Simulation Laboratory as a critical component of any ERP or Business Information System Configuration

Following is some headline information about the Laboratory

This webpage sets out the Laboratory approach that is recommended.

The Laboratory approach that is set out here has been developed by James Robertson over several decades and is geared to minimizing commissioning risk and maximizing reliability in the final commissioned Business Information Systems solution.

 1.       Laboratory Definitions

The following terms are applied:

      1.1   Laboratory

A laboratory is a facility that provides controlled conditions in which scientific research, experiments, and measurement may be performed. (Wikipedia)

In the context of this document a System Configuration Laboratory is a room equipped with computers, visual aids, etc in which the configuration of a system is developed, refined and tested until it is stable and suitable for commissioning.  The Laboratory is also used to develop and test reports, training material, etc.  The goal of the Laboratory is that when the Laboratory work is completed the system is ready for deployment with a high certainty of a robust, reliable and sustainable outcome.

     1.2   Engineering

Engineering is the discipline, art, skill and profession of acquiring and applying scientific, mathematical, economic, social, and practical knowledge, in order to design and build structures, machines, devices, systems, materials and processes that safely realize improvements to the lives of people.

The American Engineers' Council for Professional Development has defined "engineering" as “The creative application of scientific principles to design or develop structures, machines, apparatus, or manufacturing processes, or works utilizing them singly or in combination; or to construct or operate the same with full cognizance of their design; or to forecast their behavior under specific operating conditions; all as respects an intended function, economics of operation and safety to life and property.” (Wikipedia)

     1.3   Prototype

A prototype is an early sample or model built to test a concept or process or to act as a thing to be replicated or learned from. (Wikipedia)

A prototype is a carefully and professionally constructed test sample of a system that in final form is intended to be put into economic operation by the developers (Robertson)

In the context of this document the entire configuration of all systems will be developed in Prototype form in the Laboratory until it reaches a point where it can be deployed in the business with a high level of certainty of a reliable and sustainable outcome.

     1.4   Implementation

Implementation is the realization of an application, or execution of a plan, idea, model, design, specification, standard, algorithm, or policy. (Wikipedia)

In the context of this document the Laboratory is a central component of the Implementation of the designated systems in the business.  The main characteristic of a Laboratory based implementation is that every aspect of the configuration is comprehensively tested in the Laboratory such that the deployment of the software in the business is a Commissioning rather than an implementation with the bulk of the Implementation undertaken in the Laboratory.

     1.5   Test

A test can be considered as a technical operation that consists of determination of one or more characteristics of a given product, process or service according to a specified procedure. (Wikipedia)

In the Laboratory approach every component of the configuration will be comprehensively tested using statistically representative data such that the configuration is proven to be reliable and dependable.  This is fundamentally from “User Acceptance Testing” insofar as it requires a much higher level of rigour and reproducibility.  Automated testing software may be used to run repetitive testing cycles.

     1.6   Walkthrough

In software engineering, a walkthrough or walk-through is a form of software peer review "in which a designer or programmer leads members of the development team and other interested parties through a software product, and the participants ask questions and make comments about possible errors, violation of development standards, and other problems". 

A walkthrough differs from software technical reviews in its openness of structure and its objective of familiarization. It differs from software inspection in its ability to suggest direct alterations to the product reviewed, its lack of a direct focus on training and process improvement, and its omission of process and product measurement. (Wikipedia)

1.6.1     Software Walk-through

In the context of the Laboratory approach a software walk-through is a systematic step by step practical demonstration of a piece of software directed at ensuring that the people present in the session gain a solid insight into the software and how it works directed at ensuring that the design work that follows is grounded in a solid understanding of how the software “machine” works.

1.6.2     Configuration Walk-through

A configuration walk-through is a systematic step by step practical demonstration of a piece of software configured to fit a particular element of the business using real data directed at ensuring that the configuration accurately fits the understanding of the people present in the walk-through with a view to ensuring a tight fit to the business.

The following principles are applicable to the Configuration Engineering Laboratory:

1.1   Prototyping environment

The laboratory is a rigorous, carefully controlled prototyping and testing environment managed by a very senior and very practical manager who has a clear high level holistic view of how the entire solution fits together and who clearly understands the critical role of the laboratory.  This manager is to be supplied by the Implementer.

1.2   Representative data

The laboratory is populated with comprehensive, carefully selected representative data – perhaps 0.1% of the data that is in the live system but representative of all possible scenarios.

There are very specific principles to be applied in the selection of this data.  Selection of this data will be guided by the Project Facilitator.

1.3   Fully equipped

The laboratory is situated in a permanently assigned, well-appointed and well-furnished room with five to ten high performance workstations, a high performance server, high performance backup device  (to permit rapid roll back to previous test states), data projector, flip charts, white board, etc.

1.4   Automated testing software

The laboratory is to be equipped with automated testing software that will permit recording and playback of test scripts.

1.5   Life of project

The laboratory is established at the very start of the project and runs until the Data Warehouse and Business Intelligence environment are fully operational and the system has been fully commissioned.

1.6   Accurately model the real world

All configuration settings are tested in the laboratory until they accurately model the precise desired operation of the business and all required customization and custom development has been comprehensively and rigorously tested and accepted.

Executives and managers must be able to undertake structured facilitated walkthroughs of the laboratory configuration and see their business at all times – if it does not make sense to the executives and / or managers the process stops until the configuration has been modified so that it does make sense to them.

1.7   Break it till it breaks no more

The primary initial goal of the laboratory is to break the configuration and once it cannot be broken to optimize it, document it, develop training material and computer based training material (CBT) in it, use it as a training environment, use it for the testing of reports and establish the Data Warehouse operating against it.

1.8   Business Intelligence Development

A full set of management reports, dashboards, etc are to be developed and tested in the laboratory BEFORE production operation commences.

1.9   Standards, Policies and Procedures

A full set of operational standards, policies and procedures must be developed during the project and embedded in the training given in the laboratory and thereafter.

1.10  Computer Based Training Material

A full set of Computer Based Training material with regard to standard operating practices for all primary areas of business operation that uses the software must be developed in the laboratory and deployed as part of the final deliverable.

1.11  Basis of go-live certificate

The configuration does NOT go-live until it has been comprehensively tested in the laboratory and accepted by all senior project team members.

The go-live certificate will be issued at the end of a structured walkthrough of the entire configuration by the entire top management of the project – this walkthrough may take several days and may have to be suspended several times for adjustments.

If the top team are not satisfied with the results of the walkthrough further walkthroughs, will be held until all members of the top team are willing to accept the configuration.

1.12  Basis of live instance

The laboratory configuration forms the basis of the live instance of the software – the entire configuration is to be copied onto the production server and rigorously tested software used to clear out all transaction data files and reset all counters.

This reset software must be supplied and certified by the software vendor who shall be liable for damages should the reset software be found to be defective.

The final empty configuration will be reviewed and tested during a trial run of the start-up process in the Laboratory.

1.13  Goal of the Laboratory

The goal of the Laboratory is to ensure that the final live installation is an excellent fit to the business, that all staff are properly trained at go-live, that there are no surprises and that there is minimal well managed risk to the business on go-live.

1.14  Bill of Services

More details of the Laboratory are set out in the Bill of Services.

The Laboratory is a well-equipped room with a full installation of all software components in which all aspects of the installation can be effectively tested.

The set-up of the Laboratory must be designed in such a way that all realistic scenarios and operational conditions can be simulated.  This may require additional workstations and child Laboratory installations at remote sites in order to fully test the performance of communication, etc at practical levels.

It is important that the workstations, server/s, network operate at peak efficiency so that testing can proceed quickly.  Testing relating to workstation, network and server performance must take place as a distinctly separate activity, maximum performance in the Laboratory is vital in order to ensure that testing proceeds as efficiently as possible and takes as little time of business and contractor personnel.

The room must be sufficiently large for an audience to be able to attend walk-throughs and there must be a data projector so that groups of people can participate in walk-throughs.

Other presentation aids such as flip charts and white boards must also be provided.

As noted above the final stage of any aspect of Laboratory operation is the issue of a Certificate of Readiness to Commence Live Operation.

This certificate must be progressively signed by all team members and includes a clear statement that the persons signing the Certificate are fully satisfied that the system is ready to be deployed in the business.

The goal of this certificate is to create a context in which no-one will sign the certificate until they are fully satisfied that the configuration is ready to be commissioned.