An Innovative Way to Think About a Simulation Center’s Core Administrative Functions: Comparing Managing a Simulation Facility to a Restaurant

Abstract There are some aspects about operating a simulation facility that are simple and some that are complex. One might compare operating a simulation program to operating a restaurant. It is unlike any other educational endeavor that most academicians have ever ventured into. In fact, it is quite entrepreneurial. It takes an individual with a keen business sense to lead and manage a successful clinical simulation enterprise. However, as daunting and high tech as clinical simulation can be, producing a simulation program is still all about putting on a good show day in and day out, with customers’ experiences being only as good as their last experience. The mantra touted in the restaurant industry, “proper preparation prevents poor performance,” holds true for implementing a simulation program. The purpose of this chapter is to provide insights into the core administrative functions of a simulation program and to describe features that may need to be customized to fit an individual facility.