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The modeling process, which is necessarily associated with systems analysis, results in a systems model. Whether it be mental, formal, or physical, it is the modeler's representation of a system. A model is a generalization at less than a one-to-one correspondence. That is, in one or more ways, it is simpler than the real system. In forming or building models, there is not just one way to do it. There are as many approaches as there are people doing it. And it should be emphasized that every conscious person in the world builds at least mental models. Most build word models. Some of us are better at building block diagrams and/or mathematical models than we are at building word models. The best model is the simplest one that accomplishes the purpose of the modeler. That concept is known as Ockham's Razor.
The value of a model is best determined by examining its internal and its external validity.
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