Collaborative Scenario Building For Policy Modelling

The regulatory environment is becoming increasingly challenging, dynamic and complex. Modern Information and Communication Technology (ICT) heavily impacts and shapes governance activities in order to provide policy-makers and affected stakeholders with precise, trustful and up-to-date information on the field of their interest in a more efficient and effective way. Besides, on-line collaboration is recognized to have the potential to trigger and shape significant changes in the way future societies will function. OCOPOMO (Open Collaboration in Policy Modelling) is a project co-funded by the European Commission (EC) to implement collaborative scenario building and policy modelling via an integrated ICT toolbox. In this paper, we introduce novel policy development approach in OCOPOMO, which embarks on evidence-based stakeholder generated scenarios that are subsequently transformed via conceptual models into formal policy models. The innovative approach includes means to ensure traceability and transparency and therewith contributes to more trustworthiness and active participation of stakeholders in the policy development process. This novel approach combines collaborative scenario building through on-line means with modelling and simulation of policies in order to help better understand the possible outcomes of government proposals, decisions and legislation

stakeholder involvement, policy modelling, open collaboration, Scenario building