Abstract for: Modelling in Groups; selecting scripts for improving healthcare outcomes

Modelling alternative healthcare policies that involve multiple agencies presents many challenges not least ensuring effective participation of experts practicing disparate professions. Different problem structuring scripts are now available that can be used to support participants engaged in facilitated model construction. Group Model Building (GMB) within System Dynamics (SD) is a proven and effective means for building collegiate simulations capable of reflecting dynamically complex socio-technical systems. Predefined scripts are used in GMB but which elicitation techniques offer most for maximising engagement given least participant group time face to face? Overcoming these barriers enables SD to reach prospective beneficiaries who may not have considered modelling as a means of addressing dynamically complex issues that are widespread in healthcare. This paper aims to improve script selection to achieve effective results for expert practitioners analysing healthcare policy alternatives. By studying targeted elicitation techniques from system dynamics, it may be possible to establish how learning from scripts for modelling in system dynamics can inform other methods capable of engaging decision makers with even less time to spare, for example those associated with decision conferencing.