Scriptapedia/Structure Elicitation

Structure Elicitation
This script is used to capture the key endogenous mechanisms elicited during a discussion that have the potential to explain the observed behaviors or dynamic hypotheses. This script is used after the break which follows the "Reference Mode Elicitation" script.

Status:
Best practices

Primary nature of group task:
Convergent

Time
Preparation time: 20 minutes

Time required during session: 90 minutes

Follow-up time: 0 minutes

Materials

 * 1) Chalk/whiteboard markers
 * 2) Flip chart/whiteboard

Inputs:

 * Prioritized list of variables
 * Behavior over time graphs (reference modes)

Outputs:

 * Basic stock and flow structure

Roles

 * Facilitator
 * Modeler

Steps

 * 1) During the break that follows the "Reference Mode Elicitation" script, the modeling team selects a couple of key behaviors from the reference mode elicitation exercise.
 * 2) The facilitator starts the structure elicitation by suggesting two stocks. The facilitator explains that these stocks are initial simplifications of the system.
 * 3) The facilitator asks the group to identify the variables that help to open or close the faucet of these two stocks. Participants suggest causal relations linked to these two initial stocks and their corresponding rates.
 * 4) The facilitator clarifies the nature of the causal relationships with the group while drawing them on the board.
 * 5) After adding a couple of variables and causal relations, the facilitator summarizes by telling the story embedded in the model so far. The facilitator then asks the group to add further causal explanations, stressing the importance of selective thinking about causality with the purpose of reaching a powerful and parsimonious explanation of the project success.

Evaluation Criteria:

 * A basic stock-flow structure has been produced

Authors
Richardson and Andersen

History
Originally described in Luna-Reyes et al. (2006) and probably documented by Annaliese Calhoun in 2010.

Revisions
None