December 19, 2024
Facing Floods: A stakeholder river management game
In river management, decisions are influenced by multiple stakeholders, each with different priorities, needs, and levels of influence. While collaboration is essential to solve river-related challenges, these differences create a complex dynamic environment in decision-making processes. This game simulates the challenges of river management by placing players in the roles of various stakeholders, each with their own goals, needs, and budgets. Players must work toward achieving their individual objectives while negotiating and cooperating with others, balancing personal interests with the shared responsibility of managing the river. The "Facilitator Guide" (see downloads) is designed to assist you in organizing and facilitating a game with 7 or more players, as well as preparing for the session. Additionally, you will find the various game materials required for gameplay. These materials need to be printed on A4 or A3 paper, with detailed printing instructions provided in the "Print Instructions" file. Learning goals • Experience the decision-making process related to complex systems as the development and management of river engineering infrastructure. • Get acquainted with the interests and goals of the involved stakeholders, realize that they may be conflicting or equivalent, and possibly bond with each other. • Debate the effectiveness and impacts of river interventions on the river system, environment and society, from the perspective of a stakeholder. • Appreciate the challenges of proposing a solution that integrates different river interventions and satisfies the goals of multiple stakeholders. • Reflect on the challenges of decision-making processes in complex systems. This game was developed for the River Engineering module, more specifically the unit River Functions and Management, of the MSc Civil Engineering program of the Technical University of Delft (TU Delft). However, the game is suitable for anyone interested in learning about stakeholder involvement and interactions in river management. More information about the use of the game can be found in the facilitator manual. Credits: this game was developed by the TU Delft Gamelab (website:https://copy.gamelab.tbm.tudelft.nl/).