Consistent Conceptual Description (CCD)

The Consistent Conceptual Description (CCD) serves to capture descriptions and perceptions of the stakeholders in a structured way and to code this information, cluster it, condense it and further elaborate it to reflect a comprehensive consistent conceptual description of a policy case.

Thus, along the transformation to formal policy models, the CCD plays a role of an intermediary between scenarios and simulation models.

The CCD is generated in phase 3 by policy analysts who have expertise in knowledge extraction and in constructing conceptual models thereby using standard modelling notations for e.g. ontology, actor descriptions in structured actor description templates, rule statements, rule-dependency graphs, and actor network diagrams. Domain experts, facilitators and policy modellers may support policy analysts in the analysis and conceptualisation of the policy case. Conceptual modelling skills are required for these actor groups.

Several scenarios can form input to the CCD of a policy domain and further lead to a formal simulation model. Likewise, expertise of policy analysts may lead to particular knowledge constructs in the CCD. The CCD may also inform the scenario development of stakeholders by visualising particular knowledge gaps in the existing scenario descriptions. Finally, the CCD content may be revised or enriched based on input from analysing simulation models. 

Maria A. Wimmer, Karol Furdik, Melanie Bicking, Marian Mach, Tomas Sabol, and Peter Butka. Open Collaboration in Policy Development: Concept and Architecture to integrate scenario development and formal policy modelling. In Yannis Charalabidis and Sotiris Koussouris, editors, Empowering Open and Collaborative Governance. Springer Berlin / Heidelberg, 2012.