Common System Evaluation Methods and Models

When choosing habitats, the first humans had to evaluate possible threats correctly to ensure survival. When our ancestors exchanged goods and bartered services, they needed to evaluate the offerings of both parties. Since the 1950s, socioeconomic development and scientific decision making led to a wide range of evaluation activities in all areas including engineering projects, science and research, industrial development, environmental assessment, evaluation of university subject matter, enterprise competitiveness, personnel quality evaluation, technology and economic development evaluation, and even evaluation of comprehensive national strength and government policies. All aspects of life and work involve evaluation. As our understanding of nature and human society deepens, we must evaluate complex realities to promote the rapid development of methods for evaluating a single target criterion, multiple criteria, qualitative and quantitative methods, static and dynamic systems, certainties and uncertainties, and evolution of individuals and groups.