In the presented work we devote to creating a
computer model of a professional service firm using the theory
of business modeling. The whole model was programmed using
the application Vensim. Another part of this work was to use
this model to answer some key questions about the professional
service firms. We dealt with an issue of an optimal distribution
of employees on different seniority levels. We have also studied
an influence of different personnel policies on the business
performance. Finally we found optimal parameters settings for a
human resources management. Such model could then be used
for better understanding patterns of companies in the
professional service industry and we can use it to manage the
company more effectively in this environment.
Tomas Hubik : is a PhD student at the Charles University in Prague
in the Czech Republic at Faculty of Mathematics and Physics. He
graduated at the same university in Information Technology in 2012.
The main field of his research is System Dynamics and computer
based mathematical modelling. He also attended the International
Conference on System Dynamics, the biggest event in the field,
where he presented his work in 2014.
System dynamics
Business dynamics
Human
resources
Management
Professional service firm
Issues of the professional service companies’ management
are very extensive. It contains many different areas that
need to be monitored, evaluated and controlled. We have
to take care of the clients’ base to secure a sufficient
inflow of new projects. As we have already mentioned, the
employees and their knowledge is essential for every
professional service firm. This implicates another key
area – human resources. Furthermore, we have to deal
with a development of services, project management,
company reputation monitoring, marketing and so on. We
can realize that we have to deal with a very complex
system, where it is not so easy to estimate the effect of a
change in one part of the system to the rest. This is not
only about the effect but also to what extent and when the
effect occurs. These questions make predictions even
more complicated and, in some cases, with absence of a
sophisticated model, almost impossible.
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firm? Toward a theory and taxonomy of knowledgeintensive
firms”, Academy of Management Review,
Vol. 35, No. 1, 2010.
[2] K. Warren, “Strategic Management Dynamics”, Free
Press Paperbacks, 1997. [3] D. H. Maister, “Managing the Professional Service
Firm”, JohnWiley & Sons, 2008.
[4] S. A. Burtonshaw-Gunn, “Essential Tools For
Management Consulting”, John Wiley & Sons, 2010.
[5] K. Warren, C. Spencer, “The Professional Services
Microworld Learning Guide”, Strategy Dynamics,
1999.
[6] Ventana Systems, Inc.: company web pages [online],
updated August 14th, 2014 [quoted January 5th, 2015],
available from WWW: .
[7] K. G. Cooper, “Going To Great Lengths, One Route
To Success and a Smarter, Happier Consulting Life”,
PA Consulting Group, August 1994.
[8] C. A. Stephens, “How To Go To Great Lengths”,
PRA’s Experience, PA Consulting Group, September
1995.
[9] T. Hubik, “System Management Model of a
Professional Service Firm”, Master’s thesis, Faculty
of Mathematics and Physics, Charles University in
Prague, Czech Republic, June 2012.
