Naming systems models by end use

[Jim Thompson]

In ""Prediction and prescription in systems modelling"" (Operations Research,
38:1 (January-February 1990), pp. 7-14), Herbert A. Simon wrote: ""When we
model systems, we are usually (not always) interested in their dynamic
behaviour. Typically, we place our model at some initial point in phase
space and watch it mark out a path through the future. We may do this with a
number of different ends in view:
- we may wish to see if the model will settle down to a position of stable
equilibrium;
- we may wish simply to predict future events (the weather); or
- we may wish to examine the prospective effects of policy decisions.""
(Emphasis supplied.)

He does not name the first end use. to see if the model will settle down to
a position of stable equilibrium. Is there a name commonly applied to this
class of model?

The latter two ends he calls prediction and prescription. Are there other
names commonly applied to these model end uses?

Thanks,
Jim Thompson
james.thompson@strath.ac.uk

[iran]

Jim, Using term Emergent model. (Emery and Trist). Towards a Social Ecology.
Plenum Press 1973.

Greeting
Iran
iran@servidor.unam.mx

Professor Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Mexico. General Systems Dynamics.