1. A computer-implemented method for use in analyzing costs associated with cost flow models having components of relationships and entities, said method comprising: receiving data associated with a first cost flow model that identifies the costs associated with the relationships among the entities; receiving reduction criteria for use in reducing number of components that are in the first cost flow model; using the reduction criteria to generate a reduced cost flow model; wherein the reduced cost flow model has fewer components than the number of components that are in the received first cost flow model; wherein the reduced cost flow model is for use in analyzing costs associated with the entities in the reduced cost flow model.