Developing hypothetical case studies

The International Programme on the Management of Sustainability (Netherlands Business School, Nijenrode University) uses case studies reflecting complex environment/development conflicts as learning aids. Each case study involves a detailed scenario, setting out problems and decision points, and a wealth of technical, economic and environmental background information. Participants take on individually assigned "roles", each person playing the part of an industry representative, an environmental official, a development authority, a city councillor or environmental lobbyist. Simulations are played out over several hours as players attempt to reconcile agreed principles of sustainability with the hard realities of the case study: economic constraints, technical limitations, uncertain information and personal (role) self-interest.