Using System Dynamics Simulation Models for Software Project Management Education and Training

Due to increasing demand for software project managers in industry efforts are needed to develop the management-related knowledge and skills of the current and future software workforce. In particular, university education needs to provide to their computer science and software engineering students not only technology-related skills but, in addition, a basic understanding of typical phenomena occurring in industrial (and academic) software projects. The objective of this paper is to present concepts of a computer-based training (CBT) module for student education in software project management. The single-learner CBT module can be run using standard web-browsers (e.g. Netscape). The simulation component of the CBT module is implemented using the System Dynamics simulation modelling method. The paper presents the design of the simulation model and the training scenario offered by the existing CBT module prototype. Possibilities for empirical validation of the effectiveness of the CBT module in university education are described, and future extensions of the CBT module towards collaborative learning environments are suggested.