Decision Making / 5 / 5.4

5.4 ITERATIVE AND INTERACTIVE STRATEGY DEVELOPMENT

A variety of techniques may be integrated into IISD, depending on the nature of the problem and the needs of the client. Tools and techniques typically encompass soft operations research, systems thinking, and system dynamics modelling in a multi-disciplinary approach. IISD is shown diagrammatically at Figure 5-4.

5.4.1 IISD In Brief

IISD is action research. Circular arrows denote an iterative process through which concepts, causal relationships, feedback and delays are analysed. This may be envisaged as a spiralling process where radial distance from the time axis (vertically out of page) increases or decreases with successive alternating cycles of divergence and convergence: knowledge elicitation and data gathering (divergence activities), analysis, problem definition, conceptualisation, model development, simulation, and policy analysis (convergence activities). Iteration is often used in engineering highly complex systems. Iteration is frequently depicted as a ‘waterfall’ with information feedback to inform experiential learning, or action leading to revision of specifications and design (Sage and Rouse: 1999; Stevens, et.al., 1998: 194).