Abstract for: Stakeholder Engaged System Dynamics Modeling at RAND

Policy analysis seeks to bring the systems analysis emphasis on the behavior of interrelated components to the framing and solving of difficult public problems – "speaking truth to power." How can this be accomplished in systems where power is dispersed, goals and mental models diverge, and where problems require sustained, long-term engagement? This session provides an overview of how SD contributes to efforts to address these challenges at RAND, one of the world's oldest policy analysis organizations. We use an integrative framework to describe concrete examples of how RAND builds and evolves transdisciplinary teams that help decision-makers and stakeholders ask and engage with new questions through co-created simulation models in the context of multi-year engagements, and with attention to using the modeling process to help clients build out and sustain their partnership networks. Through iterative co-creation with anchor and community stakeholders, we gain access to data and mental models from the front-lines that help our team to continuously improve our simulation models. This process enables us to refine models based on real operational insights and diverse stakeholder perspectives. Early results suggest improved stakeholder understanding of system dynamics, with workforce models influencing policy development and learning models showing strategic planning promise. We conclude by offering more general reflections on transdisciplinary team building, client engagement, participatory modeling, and project financial management that are relevant to other SD practitioners.