The Use of Succinct Models and Data Summaries

As we do in this chapter, Blumenfeld et al. (1987) describe the advantages of simple models; the opinions expressed in this reference are based on a case study where succinct models based on data summaries proved very effective; the reference is easy to read. Newell (1973) argues that a family of related transportation and location problems can be solved approximately with an approach that ignores “details”; this paper was the “seed” for the continuum approximation method to be presented in Chapter 3.