Defining the Audiences for Your Model

When you begin to design your model, you should always have in mind the audiences to whom you will be presenting or explaining the model. Most models will have at least two audiences:

• a high-level audience (managers and decision-makers who are primarily interested in the "big picture" or "bottom line"); and

• a low-level audience (analysts who are also interested in the technical details and assumptions of the model).

Often, there will be multiple low-level audiences, which are interested in different technical aspects of the model. There may also be a "mid-level" audience, which is interested in more than the "big picture", but does not want to get lost in the details.

For a model to be successful (i.e., useful), you must be able to present and explain your model effectively to all of these audiences.

GoldSim provides the tools for you to create a single model that can be explained and presented to multiple audiences. The primary way in which you accomplish this is by organizing your model into a logical, top-down hierarchy.