The relevance of facilitation in group decision making supported by a simulation model

This paper addresses the impact of feedback information and facilitation on a decision‐making process supported by a system dynamics model. We conducted the Solomon Four‐Group Experiment under four conditions: (a1) interrupted individual determination of a strategy supported by a simulation model and a facilitator; (a2) interrupted individual determination of a strategy supported by a simulation model and a facilitator plus group information feedback (GIF); (a3) continuous individual determination of a strategy supported by a simulation model; and (a4) continuous individual determination of a strategy supported by a simulation model plus GIF. The observed variables were criteria function (CF), frequency of simulation runs (FSR), and insight into GIF. The hypotheses that a simulation model supports individual learning and additional GIF contributes to faster learning were confirmed. The importance of the facilitator and structure of feedback information was demonstrated and a model explaining learning in the decision process was developed. Copyright © 2011 System Dynamics Society.