Modeling performance impacts of command and control system product improvement-using Petri nets to replicate complexity

The author advocates Petri nets for addressing issues of systems analysis and complexity. He discusses their capabilities and demonstrates through a real world example how powerful Petri nets are in application to these issues. The analysis is divided into four parts. In the first part, the focus is on the general properties of systems and a way of separating simple and complex systems is proposed. Next, Petri nets and their application to systems analysis are discussed. Thirdly, two Petri net workstation tools are considered, illustrating how Petri net theory can be transformed into practical use. Finally, an application of one of these tools to a NATO Air Force acquisition decision problem