Define performance
measures - quantitative criteria on the basis of which
different system configurations will be compared and
ranked. Identify, briefly at this stage, the configurations
of interest and formulate hypotheses about system
performance. Decide the time frame of the study, i.e.,
will the model be used for a one-time decision (e.g.,
capital expenditure) or over a period of time on a regular
basis (e.g., air traffic scheduling). Identify the end user
of the simulation model, e.g., corporate management
versus a production supervisor. Problems must be
formulated as precisely as possible.