The role of GDSS in scenario development and strategy making

Abstract

The development of alternative futures/scenarios, is an important part of strategy making. Indeed 'scenario planning' has recently become a popular activity in its own right. However, methods for involving directly the power brokers in the process are not well developed, and yet the ownership of the strategic thinking which follows from thinking about alternative futures is crucial for successful strategic change. The paper presents a method for involving the senior management team that succeeds because of its involvement of a group decision support system (GDSS). The method described has been used in a wide variety of organizations-public and private, large and small. After describing the role of thinking about alternative futures in strategy making and its relationship to stakeholder analysis and management, the paper goes on to describe the method and use of the GDSS, and finally considers some of the reasons why the use of a GDSS is helpful.