Cross-cultural knowledge transfer using dynamic models

Discrete-event simulation has become an accepted tool for enabling flows of production-related knowledge associated with technology transfer across borders. Multinational enterprises based in Europe and the US often use models to convey detailed process information between engineers and plant managers who are geographically separated. In 2003, a medical consulting organization specializing in health care improvement approached the author to determine whether dynamic models could represent processes and concepts in ways that might improve interaction with medical administrators from developing nations whose education and focus was not necessarily on process issues. Specifically, they asked if simulation could support the introduction of Western health care approaches to hospital managers in China. As expected, dynamic models played a facilitating role in enhancing the communication of process information and new concepts. Their utility went further, however, in that the models stimulated increased participation by the nursing staff and gave them more involvement in decisions on process-related issues. Sensitive probing by the consultants allowed them to use simulations to extract background information about local practices, so that proposed approaches might be tailored to local conditions.