< SUMMARY 9 > ROLE PLAYING STRATEGY SESSION: KEY TECHNIQUE:

<< ROLE PLAYING STRATEGY SESSION: >>
Gather your Core Group together for a Role Playing Strategy Session.
State your proposal and ask yourselves: What is the strategy behind this
proposal? What do you hope to accomplish? Then go through each of the key
groups that you've identified for Role Playing and Role Play their reaction to
your proposal. How would you react if you were them?
A Role Playing Strategy Session is designed to answer in detail the question:

What Will Happen If We Do This?
 

EXAMPLE: ROLE PLAYING STRATEGY SESSION:
On a military low altitude flight issue, the Core Group proposed an
action for consideration in a Role Playing Strategy Session.
Proposal: our group will come out opposed to the flight path and rally
support to that position. Each of the Key Groups identified as likely to be
involved in the issue were Role Played for their reaction to this proposal
(see Role Playing for identification of Key groups).

RURAL NON-FARM OUTSIDERS:
It was decided by Role Playing that this key group would, in general,
strongly support the proposal. In fact, some members of this group would want
to extend the position to outright opposition to the military. This group,
though highly motivated, made up a very small percentage of the people in the
flight path (less than 10 percent).
 

RURAL NON-FARM LOCALS AND FARMERS:
These 2 groups accounted for the vast majority of the people in the
flight path. Role Playing suggested that they looked to the military as a
source of educational and economic opportunity. Many had relatives or friends
who had been in the military. Early contact suggested that opposition to the
flight path would be interpreted as opposition to the military by members of
these groups. If opposition to the flights was interpreted as opposition to
the military by a significant number of these people then the issue would
focus on the pro military vs anti military question instead of the effects of
the flights on the people in the flight path. If the issue was raised in
these terms, then these 2 groups could be expected to strongly support the
military position.

GENERAL PUBLIC:
People outside the flight path had strong leanings towards the
military for the same reasons (listed above) and not being in the flight path
the general public had even less concern for the effects of the flights.
 

THE MEDIA:
Role Playing suggested that the general approach in the media would be
to take the angle of stressing the more controversial aspects of the issue and
would, therefore, tend to frame the issue in terms of those opposing the
flights and those supporting the military. This would add to the serious
problem of polarization in the community.

ADVERSARY:
Fully expecting the pro and anti military angle to be taken on the
issue, the military would most likely define the issue as a test of support
for `our boys in the service' and their need to train.

GROUPS LEANING TOWARDS YOUR ADVERSARY:
Veterans groups could be expected to fully support the military view
if the issue was raised in terms of the pro and anti military positions.
 
 

ROLE PLAYING STRATEGY SESSION: EXAMPLE RESULTS
The result of the Role Playing Strategy Session on the low altitude
flight issue was that the proposed position of coming out against the flight
path would be interpreted as a position of opposition to the military by the
vast majority of people in the communities involved. This would be further
magnified by the press and military stressing this aspect of the issue. Given
the preexisting conditions of strong support for the military in the region
for both economic and patriotic reasons, it was concluded that the proposal to
oppose the flight path would lead to an overwhelming opposition to the group
with the result that the real issue of the effects of the flights on the
residents of the flight path would be largely ignored.
CONCLUSION:
There would be almost no chance of success with the proposed position.
 

BEST STRATEGY DEVELOPED BY LEARNING FROM YOUR MISTAKES BEFORE TAKING ACTION:
As you test a proposal in the Role Playing Strategy Session you begin
to identify problems and see unwanted consequences of your proposed action (or
position). This process of testing and revising and testing again is how
Strategy evolves. Your original proposal is only the beginning of the
process. Most of the Strategy evolves as you try to address the problems with
your early proposals. After a number of Role Playing Sessions on revisions of
a proposal the final proposal may bear little resemblance to the original one.
Good Strategy develops through the process of Role Playing Strategy as you
revise and improve your proposals.
 

REVISED PROPOSAL: EXAMPLE
When a proposal goes through its first Role Playing Strategy Session
serious problems are often discovered. Although initially discouraging to
some members, the insights gained in this session can lead to a better
proposal.
For example, in the low altitude flight issue it was noted that many
people expressed concerns for the effects of the flights if it was not in the
context of the pro and anti military question. There was, therefore, a basis
for common ground on the question of concern for the effects. Because of the
overwhelming tendency by the press and the public to frame the issue in terms
of the pro and anti military question, it was decided that the group must
clearly state that they were not against the military and must acknowledge the
military's need to train. At the same time, the group would state that they
felt strongly that their legitimate concerns on the effects of the flights
must be addressed before the flight path was sited. In keeping with this
position, the group could then raise specific concerns on the effects of the
flights (on people, children, livestock, property values, etc.) and begin to
build a broad base of support in the community.
 

NEED TO KEEP THE CORE GROUP TOGETHER: EXPERIENCE VALUABLE:
Role Playing Strategy helps you improve your Strategy by using your
group's most valuable resource: people. As you develop Strategy in your Role
Playing Session the experience of all of the members of the Core Group comes
into play. As proposals are modified and revised, members come to a better
understanding of the situation. Each member brings a different background and
point of view to the session and each session is a learning experience and
adds to the insight of each of the members. It is in the best interests of
the group to make every effort to keep the Role Playing Strategy Group (Core
Group) together as your group evolves because this group is more valuable as
it gains experience.

READY TO TAKE ACTION:
The Role Playing Strategy Session allows you to test your proposals
and be in a good position to anticipate the probable consequences before
taking action.
 

< SUMMARY 9 > ROLE PLAYING STRATEGY SESSION: KEY TECHNIQUE:

<< ROLE PLAYING STRATEGY SESSION: >>
Gather your Core Group together for a Role Playing Strategy Session.
State your proposal and ask yourselves: What is the strategy behind this
proposal? What do you hope to accomplish? Then go through each of the key
groups that you've identified for Role Playing and Role Play their reaction to
your proposal. How would you react if you were them?
A Role Playing Strategy Session is designed to answer in detail the question:

What Will Happen If We Do This?

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