EURO 2025 Leeds
Abstract Submission

1235. Navigating complexity in sustainable mobility transition with integrated group model building and process mapping methods

Invited abstract in session MD-61: Behaviour in group decision making, stream Behavioural OR.

Monday, 14:30-16:00
Room: Maurice Keyworth G.31

Authors (first author is the speaker)

1. Mats ter Horst
Institute for Management Research, Radboud University
2. Peraphan Jittrapirom
Radboud University
3. Femke Bekius
Nijmegen School of Management, Radboud University

Abstract

Transitioning to a zero-emission rail system is a complex process that involves stakeholders from various organizations and expert-driven strategies. For this sustainable transition to succeed, it is essential for decision-makers to have a shared understanding of the problem (system knowledge), common goals (target knowledge), and clear pathways for implementing the transition (transitional knowledge). In this study, we utilized a participative model-building method in Group Model Building (GMB) and complemented it with process mapping (PM) to integrate diverse perspectives among key stakeholders and create flowcharts outlining a potential pathway for a zero-emission rail project in Gelderland Province, Netherlands. This novel approach facilitated dialogue among stakeholders, captured the project's complexity using a qualitative model, and supported action plan development. By combining PM with GMB, we formulated a shared understanding of the transition, defined tasks, assigned responsibilities, and established a timeline to achieve the goals identified during the GMB process, thus addressing often-neglected aspects of implementing GMB session outcomes. Our findings demonstrate how this integrated process can promote the development of a shared understanding and pathways for a sustainable mobility transition.

Keywords

Status: accepted


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