Abstract for:Causal Process Models for Efficient Energy Project Consultation and Strategy Development

Widely accepted models to understand and illustrate project sequences are typically of a linear kind. Dynamic aspects and ways of thinking needed to steer projects are often only implicitly considered in mental models of the actors. This results in lack of transparency for customers and supervisors, as well as hinders knowledge transfer and the derivation of accurate strategies. The aim of this study is to develop tools based in System Dynamics (SD), which help to better understand and manage dynamic project- and business-processes, prospectively. It further discusses their value proposition in the fields of project- and business-development. Therefore, two cases with distinct perspectives are considered; firstly, a project-implementation and secondly, a project-acquisition perspective. By following the SD modelling process standards and using expert interviews, both causal and critical project-aspects for both approaches are identified. The derived concepts qualitatively show interrelationships during project sequences and are used to identify critical loops. From these, final strategies are deduced. An important value proposition of such SD planning tools is transparent strategy explication. In addition, SD tools for process planning provides a learning tool for ongoing reflection and improvement, because it visualizes assumed cause - effects linkages.