Reshaping Engineering - Team code: RE22-006
CONCEPT NOTE - Gamification of Sustainability
Problem definition
Advocates don’t often understand the complexity and diversity of competing interests inherent in driving sustainability, which limits the ability to influence more holistic and regenerative outcomes.
Goal
Equipping Advocates to Influence Sustainable Engineering
Increasing understanding of the factors that influence engineering decisions in order to achieve greater inclusion and consensus and to help overcome obstacles to sustainability.
Core objectives of challenge
· Uncovering and demonstrating the factors and issues that can realistically change the trajectory towards sustainability
· Defining and overcoming the multivariate constraints to sustainability-focused decision making
· Collectively identifying and pursuing the highest value opportunities – the sweet spots (cost vs feasibility vs significance of impact)
The basics
Gamification
Present a gaming challenge: Co-design of a sustainability-focused gaming program that attracts a diversity of allies and requires a holistic (multi-sector) approach to overcome the challenge.
Depend on one another to uncover shared values, drive consensus and sustainable outcomes using:
· Case studies that serve as learning mechanisms for players (establish real-world connections)
· Modules that build iteratively on one another to reach a solution
· Challenges to understand and value other points of view
· Approaches to outlining the universe of options/alternatives
· Forming coalitions to champion sustainability
Game Concept
Propose an engineering challenge (e.g. rail, wind farm), in which many different groups will be impacted in some way (various degrees of positive/negative). Work toward the ultimate construction/commissioning of a net-positive (regenerative) solution.
· Economist
· Politician
· Lenders
· Environmental NGO
· NIMBYers
Players form coalitions and work towards achieving outcomes that are:
Responsible – Purposeful – Inclusive – Regenerative
Hey Team. How is the project shaping up? Let me know if you have any progress you want me to review and give some feedback on. Submission is on Monday, but I can have a call either tomorrow morning or monday morning. If not, just message me through here or send me a link to review any documents you have. Keep me posted, I'm here to help!
Hi Thomas and team 006,
I am Andres Bustamante, your mentor for this challenge, pleasure to meet you all. I really like the idea you have proposed and I think it can help make complex topics that occur in large development projects more understandable for the common person. Understanding the different perspectives and push/pull factors that stakeholders have within a project is vital to making sure it is ultimately sustainable. I have a few questions:
- How will you make this game inclusive from the initial design phase? Who's opinions will you include/not include? How will the case studies presented within the game be chosen?
- I understand you are targeting advocates as the users of this game? Who are these advocates? How do you reach out to these advocates and why should they be interested in playing the game?
- Are there tangible actions/commitments can be generated by the game? Apart from learning about the different perspectives, how can this game help the advocate?
- There are many grey areas in development that can be right or wrong depending from which perspective you are viewing it. How will the game measure the best solution in order to decide what is a net-positive (regenerative) solution?
- All coalitions or collaborations require a trade-off, not everyone will be fully satisfied with the outcome. This is an important lesson that people must understand in order to make sure projects succeed. How can this be embedded into the collaborative part of the game?
These are just a few questions to think about when working on the idea. The concept is great and has a lot of potential, but remember to consider the marking criteria not only for the final product/idea, but also for the process of how you develop it. Make sure you review the marking criteria thoroughly. I will be checking this channel daily in case you have any questions or ideas you want to bounce off me. I am also available on Slack or can jump on a quick call (timezones permitting) to chat. Let me know how I can be of help to your team. Great start! Best, Andres Bustamante Co-founder and Director of EcoSwell