The Conical Methodology: A Framework for Simulation Model Development

The Conical Methodology, intended for large discrete event simulation modeling, is reviewed from two perspectives. The designer perspectivebegins with the question: What is a methodology? From an answer to that question is framed an inquiry based on an objective/principles/attributes linkage that has proved useful in evaluating software development methodologies. The user perspective addresses the role of a methodology vis a vis the software utilities (the tools) that comprise the environment. Principles of a methodology form the needs analysis by which the requirements for tool design can be derived. A comparison with software development methodologies and some applications for the Conical Methodologies comprise the concluding summary.