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Modeling: Where's the Best Place to Start?
From SystemsWiki
This is rather an autobiographical note developed from a perspective of my own personal experience. When developing models with the intent of performing simulations, where is the best place to start? I suppose this is a dilemma I wrestled with for years. The most difficult part of every modeling effort was the "blank paper syndrome." Given a blank piece of paper to start with I was constantly concerned about where to begin. At times I was so concerned about where to begin I actually didn't begin. The concern was so great it precluded progress as depicted by the Reinforcing Loop (R1) in Fig. 1.
As I came to understand systems I finally realized it really didn't matter where one started. Because of the interconnectedness, wherever one starts is fine. With an earnest endeavor to develop an understanding of the situation and an adherence to the Model Guidelines an appropriate description of the situation will emerge regardless of where one begins. The most important aspect of developing understanding is to begin. When I realized this, I seemed to become much more productive in the development of models, and through the experience of developing models they seem to teach me how to become better at it.
So my advice is, "Don't just sit there; Draw something!" You can't get it right the first time because it's an iterative process. So just get on with it.
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