A estruturação de problemas estratégicos sob a abordagem do storytelling: a prática da imaginação do futuro em workshops de tomada de decisão

Abstract

The Operational Research (OR) is an important field for the scientific development of Business Administration, with Soft-OR being an approach more focused on qualitative aspects of decisionmaking support. While focusing on problem structuring, the Problem Structuring Methods (PSMs) are a highlight of Soft-OR. Despite the popularity of some PSMs, there is still an emphasis on computational aspects, occasionally leading to complexity and lack of transparency. Therefore, there is an opportunity to propose a PSM with an emphasis on qualitative aspects, offering a friendly and engaging mechanics, like those presented by narrative structures. This perception, aligned with the objectives of this research, was evaluated through a series of workshops using an action-research approach, aiming to produce a new artifact within the logic of Design Science Research. A relatively large architecture firm hosted the events, which tested the structuring of different simulated problems. These problems were presented to participants as architectural briefings, encompassing components and contexts involving complexity, conflict, and/or uncertainty. The choice of testing within an architecture-oriented organization is particularly relevant due to the individualized and non-structured nature of the decisions made during the planning and development of architecture design. Firstly, this study aims to evaluate and reinforce the potential of qualitative approaches for PSMs, especially through the support of narratives and their structures, a resource that has already been partially tested by some methods but still holds promising prospects for development. The feasibility of this support was demonstrated through the compilation of two basic narrative structures, a generic one and one based on the Monomyth (or 'Hero's Journey') originally developed by Joseph Campbell in 1949 and supplemented by Christopher Vogler's contributions in 2007. Finally, this study proposes the establishment of a new Problem Structuring Method resulting from the fusion of the two tested narrative structures. Named 'HERO, this method is based on an interactive model or boundary object constructed from the theoretical reference and empirical tests. The HERO Disc brings a playful, friendly, engaging, and participatory dimension, resembling a game board around which participants interact. By emphasizing the collective and interactive construction of a structure and solution for the problem, the method consolidated around Disco HERO, as proposed by this research, aims to bring a more abductive and future-oriented approach that fosters imagination and creativity in problem-solving during workshops focused on strategic decisions.