Simulation Software Will Shape the Radical Reform of Public Services in Scotland

Boston, MA, October 22, 2010 --(PR.com)-- Scottish public services need to respond ‘creatively and radically’ to budget cuts by developing innovative approaches to delivering front line services, a new report claims.

The ‘Radical Scotland’ report, from the National Endowment for Science, Technology and the Arts (NESTA), states the cost of providing public services in Scotland will rise by £27 billion during the next 15 years unless there is radical reform, and highlights SIMUL8 simulation software as a key tool in shaping that reform.

The NESTA report points to evidence from the US where a ‘bold strategic approach’ to making policy decisions in the Texas Justice system resulted in over $400 million in savings for the tax payer.

Faced with a rapidly expanding prison population, state officials worked with SIMUL8 Corporation’s simulation software to test the impact planned changes to policy decisions would have on the system. The project resulted in the rejection of plans to spend $500 million on constructing a new prison and instead showed officials that by investing the money to tackle the root causes of crime greater benefits could be realised.

Parole revocations saw a 25 per cent drop and the prison population increased by 90 per cent less than anticipated. Texas estimated savings of $201.5 million in 2008-09, with savings from averted prison construction of an additional $233 million.

Now, from their European HQ in Glasgow, SIMUL8 Corporation is working to complete similar projects with the Scottish Government.

In a bid to shape the radical reform required in Scotland’s public sector, the Scottish Justice Department is using SIMUL8 simulation software to experiment with proposed policy changes, like mandatory sentencing for certain crimes, and to develop new and innovative approaches to identify where savings could be made and processes refined.

“The $400 million savings in Texas show the value of simulation software in letting policy makers experiment with new ideas to reduce costs sensibly,” says Mark Elder, SIMUL8 Corporation founder. “Simulation software creates a risk free environment that gives the freedom to think outside the box to deliver pioneering policies, and this is exactly the type of thinking that will be needed to achieve radical reform of public services in Scotland.”

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