Bringing Analytical Gaming Methodology to Decision Support Services

Organizations today are inundated by data, economic uncertainties, policy considerations and more. These factors can make it difficult to make well-informed, comprehensive decisions. 

Through our unique HDR Fellowship Program, we’re implementing a methodology that helps organizations efficiently understand a variety of stakeholder viewpoints and impacts of potential decisions. Tailored Decision Simulation Support, or TDSS, leverages components from analytic gaming, commonly used by the United States military to promote strategic thinking. 

We sat down with the person leading this effort, Hannah Johnson, to learn more about TDSS, its process and goals, and the types of projects and organizations it can support. 

What is Tailored Decision Simulation Support?

TDSS brings components of analytical gaming to the unique challenges faced by our architectural and engineering clients. It tailors an approach to: 

• Explore a problem from multiple points of view.
• Provide a penalty-free approach to understanding a problem and potential solutions.
• Facilitate understanding of consequences of possible actions.

Much of my experience was supporting the defense and intelligence communities, and this methodology has been leveraged there for more than a century. You might hear different names, like wargaming, analytical gaming or simulations, but the idea is very similar. 

Here’s how the methodology works: We bring participants into a room or virtual environment, then break them into groups representing various stakeholders involved in a problem, project or scenario. Then the simulation starts, and participants react and observe as various decisions play out.

The participants are guided through specific tasks and questions to consider in support of the simulation’s objectives. The simulation can include different elements, like economic models or cost analyses, that might change reactions and perspectives. 

At the end of the simulation, participants share their lessons learned in a facilitated conversation. These discussions often result in uncovering profound insights not previously identified by economic models or other studies. 

What’s the point of this? The end goal is for organizers to gain a better understanding of stakeholder perspectives and implications for various decisions. In turn, that helps organizations make better-informed decisions. 

I often get asked about whether simulations are the same as role-playing board or video games. No! While those are fun (and I’ll play “Risk” with anyone who asks), the TDSS kind of simulation is a true analytic methodology with rich results. They are highly structured and intentionally designed to get to a client’s key objectives.     

What are the benefits of analytical gaming or simulation-based decision making?  

The biggest and most important benefit is that it allows decision makers to evaluate how their decisions affect stakeholders prior to implementing final decisions. In traditional decision-making, organizations aren’t forced to consider outside perspectives, or they may struggle to consider them effectively. Doing real-time simulations forces those evaluations, which helps organizations think more strategically.  

Decision makers get the benefit of experiencing a third-party facilitator who provides neutral perspectives and feedback. The exercise also includes determining the stakeholders and how they should be grouped. That’s valuable, as sometimes that can be unclear. 

On the internal organizational side, simulations provide a much richer experience for employees than spreadsheets or PowerPoints. Colleagues go through shared experiences, and that means opportunities for relationship building in an era of workplace separation. I think that’s a huge benefit to consider. 

While the process of designing and executing a simulation does require specific expertise and time, the simulations themselves can be held in a half day, or over several days, if the problems are more complex or numerous. It really depends on what the organization wants to get out of the experience and how complex the problems or decisions are. So, a big benefit in this process is that it’s easily scalable. All it takes is a group of people, some time, and our team can provide the design, facilitation, and any necessary reporting.  

How could you see this deployed?

Applications range from testing ideas and concepts, to informing investment decisions, to even providing strategic training. Simulations are best deployed either at the beginning of a problem, when scoping a situation, or before a change is rolled out, to fully recognize the decision’s impact. 

As one example, think of an energy utility as they weigh how to grow their portfolio to accommodate a planned data center’s energy need. What concerns would community members have? What implications will there be for rates? Is there a way to strike a balance between the utility’s desired way ahead and that of community members? How do you address these concerns? 

As organizations grow and evolve, reorganizations offer fantastic opportunities for simulations. Simulations can be designed to test a proposed new organizational structure, create buy-in for staff, and identify implementation challenges prior to them occurring.

Another scenario we are currently exploring within our power program is the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission’s hydropower relicensing process. We can help organizations balance community needs, environmental requirements and much more early in the planning stages of this complex process.  

What are your goals?       

We’ve been collaborating with our experts across disciplines, including transportation, architecture, water, power and more, to learn more about what we offer clients in the decision-making space, and where this methodology can enhance or supplement those existing offerings. This has helped identify how we can help organizations and our clients, as well as solicit input from different disciplines, to offer comprehensive decision support.  

We are currently running our simulation process with our teams internally and are expanding to clients in the very near future. Reach out if this is something you’re interested in learning more about.