Paper NO.39: Empowering Stakeholders – Simulation Games as a Participatory Method

Paper NO.39

Empowering Stakeholders – Simulation Games as a Participatory Method
Jan Eckert

Abstract
In cross-disciplinary projects, stakeholders often come with different abilities to express their requirements or negotiate future scenarios. To meet these different abilities, a participatory approach offers a variety of methods that can create a platform for discussions but not always can exclude emerging hierarchies between different stakeholder groups. In this context simulation games represent an interesting alternative to act and discuss in an altered space by providing a playful approach. This paper reports on the development of Work A Round, a simulation game designed for the consultancy and planning in the field of multi– located knowledge work and workplace design. It further discusses, how simulation games might be used in a research context as well and whether they might compete with classical qualitative methods.