# Scriptapedia/Creating a Shared Vision of Modeling Project
## Creating a Shared Vision of a Modeling Project

This script is used to help the modeling team and community with whom they are working create a shared vision, goals, and an understanding of the project process, either at the beginning of the project or during revision for a long-term project.

### Status

Best practices

### Primary nature of group task

Convergent

### Time

Preparation time: 45 minutes
Time required during session: 45 minutes
Follow-up time: 0 minutes

### Materials

* Projector and laptop, or a flipchart and markers for creating and editing the modeling project description

### Inputs

None

### Outputs

Revised modeling project description

### Roles

* Facilitator with moderate skills in facilitation and who is familiar with the stakeholders in the room
* Gatekeeper who is advocating for the organization/community’s interest in the model and who understands the value of the model to the organization/community

### Steps

* The facilitator presents the elements of a modeling project description and, if available, a draft modeling project description. A modeling project description has the following elements:
** Name of modeling project
** Background information
*** What’s the reference mode (in words or graph format)?
*** Why is this problem important?
** Problem type
*** What is the main barrier to solving the problem (e.g., learning, coordination, analysis, restructuring) and why?
** System insights
*** What kind of system insights would be an improvement or contribution over “business as usual?" What would be the contribution of system dynamics over alternatives?
** Definition of the primary audience(s) of the model
*** Who is the primary audience of the model? Us, organization, community, board of directors, researchers?
** Resources
*** How much time is available? What types of skills and human resources are needed?
** Values
*** What are the expectations and aspirations (e.g., provide opportunities to build capacity of program staff, involve stakeholders to inform design of project, advance science)?
* The facilitator leads a discussion of the description and assists in editing the modeling project description to better reflect the focus of the modeling project based on participant input.
* Repeat steps 1 and 2 for each section of the modeling project description, moving on to the next section only after consensus has been reached.

### Evaluation Criteria

* Participants are engaging in the discussion, contributing, and indicate understanding of the terms of the modeling exercise, motivation, and purpose
* Clarity of the modeling project description
* Consensus on the modeling project description

### Authors

Foundation for Ecological Security, Gautam Yadama, and Peter Hovmand, 2010

### History

Originally developed and documented in Rajasthan, India by Foundation for Ecological Security, Peter Hovmand, and Gautam Yadama in 2010

### Revisions

Last revised on February 21, 2013 to reflect variations since its original development.

### References

None

### Notes

A variation of this script asks participants to develop a modeling project description on flip charts in small groups.