<< 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?