The agency role of simulation models in model-building groups

Kapsali, Maria; Bayer, Steffen; Brailsford, Sally; Bolt, Timothy

Abstract

Simulation models, in particular System Dynamics (SD) models, can be used in a group modelling setting to communicate, integrate, learn, collaborate, organize knowledge and derive new insights. Such models can play the roles of conceptual integrators, representations, learning or predictive tools. In this ethnographic study of two in-depth SD group modelling projects we discovered that SD models can be active agents in the group-model building process by initiating cognitive transition on participants’ (model and case based) modes of reasoning. We found that the cognitive transition was achieved through a series of surprises or shocks that refuted participants’ prior conceptions and forced them to switch between case-based and model-based reasoning during the model-building process. Based on these insights, we present a framework that describes how simulation models change the mode of reasoning in group modelling project and explains the model’s agency role. The study addresses the calls from earlier OR articles to contribute with more case studies using an ethnographic method looking into simulation artefact agency.

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: May 6, 2021
• Online Publication Date: Jun 21, 2021
• Publication Date: 2022-10
• Deposit Date: Jan 20, 2022
• Publicly Available Date: Jan 20, 2022
• Journal: Journal of the Operational Research Society
• Print ISSN: 0160-5682
• Electronic ISSN: 1476-9360
• Publisher: Taylor & Francis
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 73
• Issue: 7
• Pages: 1423-1443
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/01605682.2021.1929527
• Keywords: Group model building, simulation artefact agency, Systems Dynamics, cognitive transition, case and model based reasoning
• Public URL: https://uwe-repository.worktribe.com/output/7924429
• Publisher URL: https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/01605682.2021.1929527
• Additional Information: Peer Review Statement: The publishing and review policy for this title is described in its Aims & Scope.; Aim & Scope: http://www.tandfonline.com/action/journalInformation?show=aimsScope&journalCode=tjor20; Received: 2019-06-19; Revised: 2021-04-12; Accepted: 2021-05-06; Published: 2021-06-21