Modeling Intergovernmental Collaboration: A System Dynamics Approach

This paper describes the development and testing of a system dynamics model of collaboration, trust building, and knowledge sharing in a complex, intergovernmental information system project. The model building and testing activity was an exploration of the feasibility of applying these modeling methods to a complex interorganizational process about which only qualitative data were available. The process to be modeled was the subject of qualitative field research studying knowledge and information sharing in interorganizational networks. This research had produced a large volume of observational and interview data and analyses about the technology project. In the course of collecting and analyzing data from this project, the researchers noted evidence of what appeared to be important feedback effects. The feedback loops appeared to influence the collaboration and knowledge sharing, critical parts of how the information system design and construction progressed. These observations led to conversations with colleagues who have extensive experience in dynamic modeling. All agreed that applying dynamic modeling methods to this process had considerable potential to yield valuable insights into collaboration. As a novel application of the methods it could yield new modeling insights as well. The modeling experience supported both propositions and was judged a success that will lead to continued exploration of these questions.