The Evolution of Models : Uncovering the Path of Model Improvement

The purpose of this contribution is to learn from the theory of evolution in order to improve the design of modeling processes. The aim of the chapter is to advance the understanding of the evolutionary structural characteristics of modeling processes which lead to better models, and to find design rules for systematically achieving higher model quality. We use a simulation approach, building a System Dynamics model. The simulation-based analysis uncovers several surprising, counterintuitive results and useful insights. These deliver lessons for advancing the design of model-building processes.