Metaphor Simulations
This method constitutes a variation of the Anthro-simulation environments method. It was created to take account of the fact that it is often difficult for people, particularly if they already have experience to learn by talking about their actual situation. In this case the training or experimental environment can be constructed as a metaphorical space. Metaphorical environments used to date include:
Alien Universe: Here the participants are displaced into a completely different environment. In this case an alien universe designed to mirror culturally their own. The experts used to support the method would be science fiction writers, or better the scientists who support those writers (Cognitive Edge has contacts in this area for those who need them, but you can just go to a SciFi convention)
Alternative History: Of particular use in government but can also apply to industry (either a sector or a company). Here a turning point in the past is taken, and twisted to create an alternative universe which is both familiar but expected. The experts in use would ''generally be historians and examples would include:'' What if the South won the American Civil War? and ''What if IBM had not employed Gerster and had gone bankrupt?''
Alternative Industry: The least alien approach in which people from one environment, say government, are placed in a situation based on the pharmaceutical industry, or bankers work in a retail environment.
The preparation phase follows that for Anthro-simulation environments but with a pre-process in which the metaphorical environment to be used is agreed and created following a period of study. This will require identification of experts and selection of a study method.
The table below describes the various stages used in the method together with commentary where appropriate.
| Task | Comments | |
|---|---|---|
| a basic study of the organisation is undertaken by a suitably naive expert. For example if the issues addressed are cultural, then an anthropologist would be used, but ideally one who have never worked in the field of organisational studies. | A doctoral student working in the slums of Glasgow or the jungles of Papua New Guinea would be idea, and cheaper than someone who has already thought through the implications of their discipline for organisational studies. Other suitable disciplines could include psychiatry or philosophy | |
| Working with the experts the displacement environment is created along with various scenarios and data points. | This can take some time and will require iterations and testing. | |
| All stages from here follow those for Anthro-simulation environments. | ||
One variant of this approach uses the prisoner’s dilemma from game theory (in the short term competition works best, but in the long term collaboration leads to a better result) with two alien cultures having to co-exist in a limited space (if the science fiction environment is used). Those who solve the prisoners dilemma in effect design methods for integration of cultures. This is of particular use in mergers.
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