Motivational Modelling
A motivational model is a tool for visualising the hierarchical structure of the goals of a system at a high-level of abstraction.
Building a motivational model helps you understand the roles of stakeholders in a system, as well as the functional and quality goals of a system. Perhaps most importantly, the process also allows you to capture the emotional goals of a system: both the positive feelings people want to have when interacting with the system, and possible issues that you might face in getting there.
Motivational models arose from goal models and agent-oriented methods described in The Art of Agent-Oriented Modeling, written by Leon Sterling and Kuldar Taveter (MIT Press, 2009). The software was developed at Swinburne University by Software Engineering students in 2018, with input from educational partners Sicheng Liu, Evan Cranney, Mingyang Zhang and Ruijang Zhang.
Three Stages of Motivational Modelling
Building a motivational model involves three steps:
Do/Be/Feel
A do/ be/feel workshop positively and efficiently elicits overall objectives
Create the hierarchy
Build your model based on the results of the Do/Be/Feel workshop. You might like to get a graphic designer involved or use our simple tool.
Reflect & Review
All stakeholders review the model and consider whether it accurately captures the terrain. Make changes if necessary. You now have a high-level model to guide your project going forward.
Why use Motivational Modelling?
Enhancing Communication
The models benefit your organisation by providing a conversation starter that teases out the organisational or purpose of a project in a way that tolerates ambiguity.
The models represent a resource that can be referred to throughout the life cycle of a project. It can be useful for explaining to clients, and for introducing new members of staff into a project. A motivational model can also facilitate communication with diverse stakeholders.
Allowing for Ambiguity
It is difficult for multiple stakeholders to understand their differences at the outset of a project. Allowing ambiguity during initial discussions and then creating a process for later resolution is helpful to a positive collaboration.
Encouraging Emotional Engagement
A key factor for the success of a project is having participants emotionally engaged.
Being explicit on emotional expectations from the outset encourages positive participation from people involved.
Proven success
Our high level models are easy to understand and have been tested with hundreds of projects.
Motivational Modelling in action
An early lecture showing the process of building a model after a Do/Be/Feel session
