Which of the following best describes simulations in strategy testing?

Simulations in strategy testing are a critical tool used to assess the effectiveness of decision strategies within a Pega application. Selecting the option that states they help to assess the impact of new decision components correctly highlights their purpose. By simulating different scenarios and user interactions with various decision components, organizations can evaluate how these components perform and influence outcomes under various conditions.

Simulations are conducted to create a controlled environment where the potential effects of decision logic can be predicted and analyzed without having to deploy them in a live environment. This process allows for the identification of potential issues and the refinement of strategies before they are put into practice, ensuring that new components behave as expected and contribute positively to decision-making processes.

The other options fail to accurately capture the role of simulations in strategy testing. For instance, performing simulations only at the final stages of development limits the opportunity for ongoing improvement, while suggesting they are unnecessary unless errors occur undermines their value as a proactive measure. Moreover, stating that simulations can be done without decision components disregards the fundamental purpose of simulations, which is to evaluate the performance of those very components.