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Classical social simulation models do not feature any participant. People are
represented in the model, sometimes from assumed or theoretical behavioural
patterns. This entails exploring potential emergent phenomena from interactions
among these behavioural patterns. Some participatory approaches involve only an
implicit social model. Within this scope, there is a large diversity of relations. This
diversity is based on the role undertaken by stakeholders, their actual involvement
and issues tackled by the model.
In all the processes allying social simulation models and participation, stake-
holders take on various roles: pieces in simulation, interfaces for coupling various
sources of knowledge, beneficiaries of the process, key informants ::: As pointed
out by Ryan, managers are overwhelmed by the complexity to be managed.
Participation is a way to share this burden (Ryan 2000). Stakeholders provide the
missing interactions and add missing pieces of knowledge, such as tacit knowledge
(Johannessen et al. 2001). If involvement of stakeholders is useful for principal
agents such as managers, we propose it as a rule that they should gain some
empowerment in the process.
Stakeholders can be key pieces of the modelling process itself as well. In
the simulation they are an alternative to computer code to provide the engine
(Hanneman 1995). They provide an answer to issues of coupling several viewpoints
(Robinson 1991).
However actual involvement of people in a participatory modelling process might
largely differ from formal involvement planned. Leaving aside cases of manipula-
tion and announce effect, people have also to find their place in the participatory
process. Suitability of participatory approaches in a specific society has to be taken
into account: context (including social) is a key driver for success in stakeholder
involvement (Kujala 2003), and practice of interactive policymaking processes
depends on local culture (Driessen et al. 2001). Representation mechanisms have
already been pointed out as a major factor. It has to be tuned to this local social and
cultural context. At a finer grain, facilitator has a key role to lead people towards the
level of involvement they are invited (Akkermans and Vennix 1997).

12.7 Conclusion

This chapter provides a review of the diversity of association of participatory
approaches and social simulation, for their mutual benefit. This diversity of
approaches allows tackling expectations about increasing model’s quality, model’s
suitability to its intended use and improving participation. Their diversity is built
upon ingredients coming from various disciplines from social sciences to computer
sciences and management. It is expressed according to the implementation of
interactions between the participants and the simulation model, the control of the
process and the format of information. This leads to expand the classical ladder of
participation towards categorization according to the stage in the modelling process
when participation takes place and the structure of the interaction to cope with the
heterogeneity of stakeholders.