Stakeholder involvement pays off in many ways. As subjects, stakeholders provide the realistic user environment that is critical to successful evaluation of tool features and facilitation procedures. Stakeholder involvement also pays off in terms of generating additional groups and often financial resources to enable further method and tool development and continued cumulative testing. Forms and graphics are synergistic. Exclusive use of forms or graphics for modeling tasks have proved to be inadequate.
Forms alone are easy to use but inadequate to illustrate the bigger picture of the model.
Graphics alone are useful for representation and feedback but cumbersome and difficult to use by many stakeholders, particularly those with fewer computer skills. Historically, modelers have worked as individuals or in small group environments. The dynamics associated with larger groups place many demands on modelers that extend into the facilitation domain. Modelers need to become comfortable working in group environments with a wide variety of organizational levels and interests. Traditional group facilitators also need to develop modeling skills to be effective in these activities to sustain credibility with the group.