Abstract:

Process modeling has an important role in every organization. One of potential modeling areas are logistics processes. Understanding these processes and visualize them as models provides an opportunity to identify possible problems in action and improve them. Creating models requires acquisition of skills to describe the studied reality in approximate way but reflecting its most important features. Simulating provides an opportunity to meet many potential solutions with the ability to play multiple previously developed model. This allows to try to optimize the processes.

Therefore it is important to get the required theoretical knowledge and understanding of practical aspects of modeling and simulation with a particular focus on IT tools to support them. Having a modeling and simulation processes skills are desirable for university graduates. The increase in interest in these fields among the current university students can be expected. The correct education process needs to take into account the current level of knowledge, practical skills and expectations in teaching of the students in the analyzed area in relation to the requirements of the labor market.

The article contains a theoretical background for the modeling and simulation of processes. In order to examine the knowledge, practical skills and expectations in teaching of the students an online survey form was prepared. This paper also presents the results of the online survey, which was conducted in 2016 and 2017 in different groups of Logistics students. The article ends with synthetic conclusions and areas for future research.

Limitations. The study involved only students of Logistics. The results of the analyzes apply only to this specific group of students.
Future research can be conducted in area of the current level of theoretical knowledge, practical skills and expectations in teaching regarding to the modeling and simulation of processes of other fields of study, eg. Management. It would be interesting to know possible differences in the perception by various groups of students.

Keywords:

Logistics, logistics processes, simulations, process modelling, students expectations.