Use of the Stockpol computer decision-support program in commercial consultancy

Abstract

Keywords: commercial consultancy, computer program, decision-support program, Stockpol Introduction Stockpol is a computer program designed for decision support on pastoral sheep and beef farms (Marshall et al. 1991). It was designed for use by consultants who give advice on stock policy decisions. A team of 8 consultants were a vital component of the Stockpol development team. They acted as clients to ensure the model performed the way they required. Since release, user suggestions have contributed to Stockpol's evolution. However, for Stockpol to be of use, a consultant needs the skill to adapt problems for analysis using Stockpol. This brief communication reports a case study of a commercial use of Stockpol in consultancy work.