1. A computer-readable medium comprising computer-executable instructions that when executed on a processor propagate attributes in a graphical model, the medium including: instructions for displaying a graphical model representing a system configured to operate using a first behavior, the graphical model comprising: a first element having a first attribute, a second element, and instructions for associating a mode switching event with the first element; instructions for: propagating the first attribute within the first element, or propagating the first attribute from the first element to the second element in response to the mode switching event; and instructions for executing the graphical model using the propagated first attribute to produce an execution result that reflects a second behavior of the graphical model.