Ventana software support forum

Dear SD Community --

I am a grad student at MIT writing a paper on using SD for pre-litigation
conflict resolution. Im interested in a wide range of conflicts,
including disagreements within a management team, debates on public policy,
or struggles over control of natural resources, as long as the role of SD
is not to determine who is responsible for an act, as part of a law suit.

In my literature search, Ive discovered three existing research areas:
-- the flurry of papers on the topic around 1990 (Nyhart, Dauer, Samarasan)
-- recent work on "modeling for learning"
-- papers (Richardson, Vennix et al.) on group model building

Do you know of other good theoretical papers on the subject?
Do you know of, or have experience with, actual cases of using SD to
resolve conflicts?

At this point, anecdotes, opinions, and hunches are welcome, via phone or email.

Thank you for your help.

Yours,
Drew
apjones@mit.edu

Andrew Jones (617) 253-7084 w
MIT E60-367 (617) 497-5160 h

Drew,

You probably should check with Ken Cooper at Pugh-Roberts for actual experience.
None of their efforts have ever actually gone to trial (this was true, at least
up to a couple of years ago) (so strictly they are "pre-litigation"). Also,
they may now have some experience in using models for negotiation.

While I worked at Pugh_Roberts, I did have one attempt in which the client (the
famous Rich Goldbach) hoped the model would be used amicably with the Navy. It
didnt work the way hed hoped (though it did work). I can tell you about it,
as I dont think anyone involved would mind at this date.

Regards,
Jim Hines
jimhines@interserv.com

This is for Drew (apjones@MIT.edu) who wanted some contacts for the use of SD in
litigation (conflict resolution).

Much has occurred in the energy and environmental regulatory areas over the
last wo decades. Here are a few starting points.

Andy Ford has several papers on his work while at Los Alamos and USC:
forda@mail.wsu.edu


The ENERGY 2020 model (as assumed for the cases below) has been used in a
nuclear-rate-shock case for Western Resources (the Kansas Gas and Electric):
Contact Mr. Kelly Harrison: Kelly_Harrison@wstnres.com

For a contentious Hydro Quebec Transmission Line case contact John Davulis at
Central Maine Power: TROJPD@CMPCO.COM

For environmental (Green Tax) legislation contact Michael Alexander MN Dept of
Public Service: Alex0008@gold.tc.umn.edu

For a Vermont Gas Pipeline case contact Dr. Bill Steinhurst Vt Dept. of Public:
WSTEINHU@psd.state.vt.us

For a mega-corporate versus state case relating to load forecasting as applied
to rates for Southern Company Services (largest utility company) versus Georgia
contact Mr. Gale Sights: Gale.M.Sights@scsnet.com

For plant siting/Demand-Side-Management regulatory issues in Illinois contact
Susan Kleemann (formerly IL Dept. of Energy and Natural Resources):SKTWO@aol.com

Finally, closer to home for you, the New England Governors Conference (Boston)
is preparing to use their New England-wide (each linked, state energy,
environment, and economy) ENERGY 2020 model to study deregulation. Efforts are
to add the Canadian provinces. Contact is Steve Leahy:NEGC@tiac.net (tele:
617-423-6900)

We also are just starting Canadian work to use a SD model to negotiate the
greenhouse gas rules for the 1997 OECD Protocol.

For US energy policy (oil and gas deregulation) contact Jay Geinzer at Applied
Energy Services: aesjg@clark.net (Model=FOSSIL2/IDEAS -- grandparent of ENERGY
2020) Jay may have international cases on independent power production also.

John Sterman probably knows much of this sordid history that started at
Dartmouth College when he was there.

George

George Backus Email: gbackus@boulder.earthnet.net
Policy Assessment Corporation phone: (303) 467-3566; fax: (303) 467-3576
14604 West 62nd Place Denver, Colorado 80004, USA