Game play of “TacTec”, a frame game for developing an implementation plan; Pieter van der Hijden, Sofos Consultancy Tactec originally was developed as a game to learn about the tactics of electronic commerce. However, as it was structured as a frame game, it could be loaded with a different content easily. It is now used most of the time as a frame game to develop a global implementation plan for a real case. A full Tactec session requires half a day. In a condensed way and with some discipline from both the participants and the facilitators, it can be run in one hour. The document describes an arbitrary case (i.e. boosting e-learning and distance learning at a university), the full instructions, and the outcomes of the one hour game run during ISAGA 2012.

1. Pieter van der Hijden (Sofos Consultancy) 2012 - Except where otherwise noted, content of this publication is licensed
under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 License.
Game play of “TacTec”, a frame game for developing an
implementation plan – Pieter van der Hijden (Sofos Consultancy)
Introduction
Tactec originally was developed as a game to learn about the tactics of electronic commerce.
However, as it was structured as a frame game, it could be loaded with a different content easily. It is
now used most of the time as a frame game to develop a global implementation plan for a real case.
A full Tactec session requires half a day. In a condensed way and with some discipline from both the
participants and the facilitators, it can be run in one hour.
In the following paragraphs we describe an arbitrary case (i.e. boosting e-learning and distance
learning at a university), the full instructions, and the outcomes of the one hour game run during
ISAGA 2012.
Case
In the past, the university management has propagated the importance of innovation, they have
created an ICT infrastructure and they have facilitated interested teachers to create and deliver
learning materials via ICT.
Now, they think it is time to switch from this bottom-up approach to a top-down e-learning policy.
Within two years they want to see that e-learning plays a significant role in all their programs.
Their vision is that e-learning will result in:
• increased efficiency and effectiveness of administrative and logistic processes,
• enhanced learning materials by using multimedia and connections to worldwide resources,
• new and enhanced learning methods like animations, online collaborative work, simulations,
games,
• implicit preparation of students, staff and organization on the age of information,
• increased student motivation,
• increased access to education (distance learning, blended learning, time and place independent
learning).
To implement their ambition a project team has been appointed. You are one of its members. The
first task of this team is to prepare a global implementation plan.
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2. Actions
Action 1
Study the case and brainstorm individually to generate a list of all stakeholders involved in the case.
Suggestions:
• stakeholders for whom the intended changes are important in a positive way,
• stakeholders for whom the intended changes are important in a negative way,
• stakeholders who could fasten the intended changes,
• stakeolders who could delay the intended changes.
Write the stakeholders on this piece of paper.
• ...
• ...
• ...
• ...
• ...
• ...
• ...
• ...
• ...
• ...
Later we will combine the findings to a gross list of stakeholders.
Action 2
Remember, you are a member of the committee to develop the global implementation plan for the
e-learning boost. As such, you will focus on the interests of one of the stakeholders.
Think about the actual situation of "your" stakeholder and describe it in a few words on the RED
sticker.
Think about the desirable situation of "your" stakeholder (once the project has been realised) and
describe it in a few words on the GREEN sticker.
Action 3
Think about 3-4 consecutive steps (activities) to bring "your" stakeholder from the actual situation to
the desirable situation. Avoid abstract descriptions. Describe the activities on 3-4 stickers.
Action 4
The result of the previous steps is a filled-in planning board. We will cross-check the proposed
activities which might lead to moving some forward or backward on the time scale. When the whole
is in balance, you may summarise the conclusions for your stakeholder.
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3. Result
Figure – The Tactec gameboard – session 6 July 2012 during ISAGA 2012, Cluj-Napoca, Romania
The picture above shows the Tactec Gameboard at the end of the demo session.
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