Building Capabilities for Change through Laboratory Simulations

Abstract

In this paper the authors describe the learning from a project at the Organizational Learning Laboratory at George Mason University as an attempt to bridge the gap between theory and practice. Using social constructionist perspectives, a recasting of reverse simulations is shown as an alternative to the traditional focus in simulations, which is to portray reality outside as faithfully as possible in the laboratory environment Utilizing appreciative inquiry as the overarching conversational forum, participants in the project created a product in record time by making the best use of the diverse talents of their team members dispersed across organizational hierarchies.