Gaming and simulation for transforming and reengineering government: Towards a research agenda

Purpose – In the process of transformation, governments have to deal with a host of stakeholders and complex organizational and technical issues. In this viewpoint paper, an argument is made in favour of using gaming and simulation as tools designed to aid the transformation and reengineering of government. Based on the argument, a research agenda is proposed. Design/methodology/approach – The approach taken is a combination of literature research, argumentation and illustrations. Findings – Simulation and gaming have the potential to be used to activate and involve stakeholders at all layers of government in transformational efforts. These tools should be closely connected to visualization and interaction options, to facilitate communication and participation. Because the various stakeholders involved have different views and different approaches, it is both necessary and difficult to involve them in identifying problems and developing solutions. Given the considerable potential of these tools, more research is needed on the use and development of participative simulation and gaming tools. Research limitations/implications – Although gaming and simulation have been used in many domains, they have yet to be tried in the area of e-government. More research is needed into the instruments that can help governments in their transformation processes. Practical implications – E-government projects should be supported by tools such as gaming and simulation to facilitate the participation, involvement of and communication among the various relevant stakeholders, to create a shared understanding of the problems and of future scenarios. Originality/value – The primary value of this viewpoint lies in the analysis of the potential opportunities of gaming and simulation in terms of transforming and reengineering government and the research agenda that follows from this analysis. Paper type - Viewpoin