  Although simulation represents a major advance in the understanding of
problems in complex systems, the field currently does not has standards in
place that would guide the reporting of the data underlying each model, the
process for model validation. This lack of common platforms significantly
decreases the attractiveness of the field in that comparison across models is
difficult, and peer evaluation of whether models should be trusted and used in
practice is severely limited. This article reports on a series of concepts that
could serve as the basis for an initial discussion regarding potential
platforms wiht the simulation community. The document covers a proposed
platform for research question formulation, literature review, data collection,
model analysis, and manuscript writing. Considerations are then made to counter
the prediction that raising quality levels would lead to a decreasing rate in
expansion for the field.
