A simulation model for facilitators of Tony Rizzo´s bead game

As the culmination of a simulation course at the University of Michigan, we simulated the physical structure and outcomes of Tony Rizzo\´s bead game. The game is a pedagogic tool to teach the effects of multitasking in a multiproject environment. During the game, time constraints limit the scope of the activity. Since the outcomes are fairly dramatic, many participants have a difficult time believing that the results they witnessed are truly representative of "typical" outcomes. The simulation model of the game was conceived as an opportunity to provide a more robust example of outcomes including the ability to demonstrate probabilistic distributions as well as potential extensions to the parameters of the game. In practice, the simulation model was effective in duplicating the observed game outcomes. Additionally, the model provides a starting point for potential further research in organizational throughput in a multiproject environment such as research or new product development.