Case Summary

In 2005 Arizona State University created the Decision Theater, an innovative technology that provides participants a 260 degree screen with three dimensional models. In this environment decision makers can access scenarios that provoke collaborative thinking. In its three years it has provided novel solutions for companies and towns and continues to improve.

Business Challenge

Public sector leaders and decision makers are looking for ways to incorporate technology for the next generation of decision makers in a manner that is both efficient and collaborative. Leaders are working to combine science and the community in order to address the complexity of problems that leaders will face today.

Approach Taken

Under the direction of Dr. Rick Shangraw , Arizona state university launched the Decision Theatre on May 23rd 2005. The Decision Theater is a room with a 3D 260 degree screen with a seating capacity of 25 people.

A virtual tour of Tempe, Arizona utilizing the Decision Theater.

The theater is an innovative technology that simulates some of our current problems today, and allows leaders to test out and modify solutions based on the outcome. These simulations are a combination of behavioral, economic and scientific factors which provide a blueprint for very realistic conditions. This helps our leaders collaborate and make informed decisions based on the information at hand.

Results Achieved

Since its inception in 2005, the Decision Theater has helped numerous organizations refine their approach to problems through simulations. In its first year it helped Arizona politicians map out school districts through the GIS technology. By doing so, politicians were able to see the affects of changing school districts on teachers and students. In 2008, legislators will put this to vote on the various affected districts.

The Decision Theater has also allowed health officials to view a possible West Nile outbreak and to modify a response. The DT has worked on numerous projects with an array of organizations.

• The Town of Gilbert - Developing a community park
• Brown Cloud - Determining the impact of urban pollution
• Arizona Department of Health Services - Supporting public health and providing analysis
• East Valley Water Forum - visualizing water management issues
• Arizona School District Redistricting Commission - redistricting Arizona's K-12 schools

Phase Field model from Wright Patterson Air Force Base.

Lessons Learned

Many say that the success of the DT can be attributed to the visuals it provides. Since everything is visual it helps clear confusion by putting everyone on the same page. While it doesn't provide an exact account of the possible future scenarios; it does however, provide a blue print for an educated response.
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