Simulation involves imitating real-world processes over time using software on computers. It is used for decision making and answering "what if" questions about complex systems that cannot be solved mathematically. This course focuses on discrete-event simulation, which models systems as interacting components that operate together to achieve goals. Examples of systems that can be simulated include manufacturing facilities, telecommunication networks, airports, hospitals, and supermarkets. Simulations can be static like Monte Carlo models or dynamic like continuous simulations that represent how a system's behavior changes over time.