If you can, you want to work toward that best solution, which would be the global optimum. Think of rolling hills: the top of a nice nearby hill would be a good success (local optimum), though in the distance there is a much bigger hill that would be a much better success (global optimum). You want to be on that bigger hill. But first you have to have a full view of the system to know the bigger hill exists.
Chapter:
Decisions, Decisions
Section:
Taming Complexity