Decision Sciences Volume zyxwvutsrqp 29 Number 2 Spring 1998 Printed zyxwvutsr in the zyxwvutsrq U.S.A. Computer Simulation Success: On the Use of the End-User Computing Satisfaction Instrument: A Comment zyx Roger McHaney Department of Management, College of Business Administration, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS zyxwvutsrq 66506, email: mchaney@business.cba.ksu.edu Timothy Paul Cronan Computer Information Systems and Quantitative Analysis, University of Arkansas, BADM 204, Fayetteville, AR 72701, email: cronan@comp.uark.edu ABSTRACT This comment is part of a comprehensive study to develop a contingency model of sim- ulation success. The current study focuses on the psychometric stability of the end-user computing satisfaction (EUCS) instrument by Doll and Torkzadeh (1988) when applied to users of computer simulation. Using a survey of zyxw 41 1 users, the researchers provide evidence that the EUCS instrument is a valid and reliable measure of computer simula- tion success. Given this evidence, managers and simulation software product developers can confidently apply the instrument in the investigation of competing tools, features, and technologies. Subject Areas: End-User Computing Satisfaction, Simulation, Simulation Suc- cess, and User Satisfaction. INTRODUCTION Today’s decision support systems zyxw (DSS) are used to decipher the vast amount of information available to corporate managers. To utilize this information in a way leading to competitive advantage, a variety of tools, techniques, and technologies have been developed. As a result, managers are faced with a bewildering array of decision support choices. In general terms, this proliferation of options has been beneficial, moving the state-of-the-art forward. At the same time, a new dilemma has become apparent-which systems best meet end-user needs? The developers of software tools also face a related dilemma-which features best meet end-user needs? One decision support technology currently receiving renewed attention is computer simulation (Blightman, 1987; Ford, Bradbard, Cox, zyx & Ledbetter, 1987; Geoffrion, 1983; Law & Kelton, 1982; McHaney, 1991). Computer simulation, classified as a representational DSS (Alter, 1977), is an appropriate and powerful 525