Modeling the Minsky triad: A framework to perform reflexive M&S studies

In this paper, we propose a general framework to evaluate models of systems that are ill defined, incompletely known, and furthermore, which cannot be experimented in real conditions, such as the economical systems at the country scale, epidemics (for obvious ethical reasons) or any natural disasters, for instance where human lives are the main issue. Our framework relies on the generic Marvin Minsky's definition of a model and its specification in the frame of the Theory of Modeling and Simulation, initiated by B.P. Zeigler. Such a dynamic system vision of the Marvin Minsky model definition enables to address original questions using what we have called the Minsky triad model, i.e., a coupled model composed of the model of the user, the model of a real system, and the model of this later model. We think that the Minsky triad model is very promising as a framework to design decision support systems for crisis management.