REALITY CHECK - A BRIDGE BETWEEN SYSTEMS THINKING AND SYSTEM DYNAMICS

System dynamics models are supposed to be more robust than other kinds of simulation models. However, tests of robustness are usually underu sed and underdocumented. To allow the extensive use of robustness test s, we have included in the Vensim software a language for defining qua litative and quantitative tests, and a facility for automatically exec uting the tests on a simulation model. Such automatic tests are called Reality Check tests. These tests provide an explicit indication of mo del quality and an effective way of comparing models.