Electronic funds transfer networks: modeling their impact on bank service goals

Reviewer: Herbert Maisel

Bankers will soon have to adapt to Electronic Funds Transfer Systems (EFTS) that encompass nationwide communications networks. This paper describes a tool—dis- crete, stochastic simulation of such networks—that is intended to help bankers in this task. The approach appears to be reasonable, and the paper is well written. If I were a banker faced with the need to make decisions about an EFTS, I would certainly pursue the potential application of this tool. However, the paper leaves many important questions unanswered. For example, the author claims that she describes both the simulation methodology and the computer program in detail; however, she does not appear to provide the answer to such basic questions as: (1)In what language is the program written__ __ (2)What is the basic time unit used in the simulation__ __ (3)Which aspects of the network model can be changed without any reprogramming__ __ (4)On which computer has the program been run__ __ (5)What resources would a user need to apply this tool__ __ The paper would have been much more useful if basic questions of this kind had been answered.