RETRACTED: A candid view of the modeling process

Abstract In this chapter, we take a candid look at the practical application of simulation modeling. We suggest a strategy for model development that we have found helpful in traversing the pitfall-filled modeling landscape we depicted in Chapter 8 . Although theoretically it is convenient to describe the modeling process as proceeding smoothly through the four phases described in Chapters 3–7 Chapter 3 Chapter 4 Chapter 5 chapter 6 Chapter 7 , in practice we usually cycle through each of these phases several times. We seldom quantify the entire conceptual model before running simulations and evaluating model behavior. Rather, we usually construct a simple “running” model as quickly as possible and then expand it gradually through a series of small additions, each of which we carefully evaluate, until we have quantified the entire model.