Navigating Complexity
Today’s most pressing challenges – from public health and workforce development to climate resilience and infrastructure planning – are not isolated problems. They are deeply intertwined, shaped by ever-evolving human, environmental, and technological forces. Each decision affects another. And in a world that’s moving fast and defined by complexity, the consequences of siloed action, or overwhelmed inaction, are more consequential than ever.
Too often, however, our systems for decisionmaking remain fragmented and outdated. Leaders are forced to choose between speed and thoroughness, data and intuition, shortterm needs and long-term vision. We’re flooded with information but still struggle to build shared understanding, let alone shared solutions.
As part of ASU’s Global Futures Laboratory, Decision Theater brings together the people, data, and tools needed to understand complex systems – and act on them. We use interactive simulations, immersive visuals, and real-world data to show how systems work, how choices would play out, and what tradeoffs might be involved. We make complexity explorable and options for action visible, in ways that clarify what’s at stake.
What makes our work so effective is our commitment to collaboration as the trust-building foundation necessary for real-world decision making. We co-create with stakeholders, integrating lived experience with scientific expertise, and build tools that reflect the needs and priorities of the communities they serve. We build tools with communities, not just for them, so what gets
Decision Theater exists to meet this moment.
created is relevant, trusted, and ready to use. Our goal is to help everyone at the table see what’s possible, understand the multiple aspects of the challenge, and work toward solutions that make a real difference.
At Decision Theater, participants don’t just see information; they explore insights and impacts across multiple aspects of the challenge, align on shared goals, and gain the clarity to move forward and take action.
Whether you’re planning for drought resilience, strengthening education systems, or strategizing regional growth, Decision Theater empowers you to explore the options, test the tradeoffs, and shape the future, together.
Decision Theater is where complexity becomes clarity. Where insights become actionable.
And where people unite around better decisions for better outcomes.
Letter from the Director
Decision Theater: Built for the Complexity
of Now
Twenty years ago, Decision Theater was founded on a simple idea: better data + better tools = better decisions. That idea still holds true, however the world we serve has proven that the complexity and urgency of the challenges we face require more than dashboards if we want to provide enough clarity and consensus for real-world action.
Today’s Decision Theater is more than a facility; it’s a methodology, a network, and a mindset. We have evolved to fulfill the purpose of addressing complex real-world challenges by integrating the best available insights of data, science, and people and translating them into tools for action at the pace the real world requires. We operate at the intersection of systems science, immersive technology, and human-centered design to help regions confront the intertwined challenges of our time - challenges that no single dataset, agency, or expert can solve alone.
What sets us apart is not just what we build, but how we build it. We’ve learned that robust models mean little if they aren’t trusted, accessible, and designed with the people who will actually use them and be impacted by them. That’s why humancentered design and facilitation are now core to our approach, on equal footing with the robust data analysis, modeling, and software engineering that remain pillars of what we do. Whether we’re mapping water resilience in Hawai‘i or energy futures in Arizona, our work begins by listening, and it builds through analysis, deliberation, iteration, and real-world testing.
We’ve also expanded our technological reach. Our portable Decision Theaters bring immersive, data-rich environments directly into the rooms where perspectives can be shared and where decisions are made, from community centers and council chambers to schools and field offices, thus eliminating barriers to participation and serving partners where they are.
We’ve recently developed a modular architecture for exhaustive data exploration tools that integrate several 1000s of data layers for advanced insights of the current and anticipated context. These have proven incredibly effective in facilitated engagements as the foundation from which specific decision scenarios can then be co-designed and built into an interface that enables stakeholders to simulate the consequences of decisions they are considering.
And with the integration of agentic AI, we’re pushing beyond scenario modeling and into a new frontier of decision intelligence. These intelligent systems don’t just process data, they uncover blind spots, test assumptions, and generate dynamic policy options that evolve in real time alongside stakeholder input. Decision-makers are no longer confined by historical models or even the limits of their own imaginations; they’re empowered to see new connections and envision new possibilities. AI is helping us close the time-lags between problem identification, solution engineering, and action.
All of this involves a focus on long-term partnerships, rather than one-off projects. Partnerships enable us to develop deeper and more trusted relationships with stakeholders, integrate more and more layers, and leverage a
deeper understanding of the true complexity of the challenges, whether faced by geographical regions or by sectors such as health. Working at this scale also enables us to include local nuances and ensure the tool we build is consistent with the scale at which decisions can effectively be made.
Additionally, these long-term partnerships get welcomed into a growing Decision Theater Network. The network partners share models, datasets where appropriate, and insights for comparative analysis of possible solutions. This allows us to leverage modular components for greater impact, compare insights across geographies, and scale successful approaches from one region to another, while still honoring local context and leadership.
Looking ahead, our goal is not only to model complex systems for decision making, but to interconnect them in ever more comprehensive and immersive ways. As part of ASU’s Global Futures Laboratory and in partnership with the School of
Complex Adaptive Systems, we are building toward composite, dynamic decision environments that reflect the true complexity of real-world systems: a digital twin with dynamic decision modeling. No other tool does this, but the challenges of our time demand nothing less.
At its heart, Decision Theater exists to provide clarity out of complexity, illuminate options forward, foster alignment of diverse perspectives behind a shared vision of the future, and make that future actionable. We’re proud of how far we’ve come. But even more excited for what’s next.
Let’s build it together.
Manfred Laubichler Director, Decision Theater at Arizona State University
Our Approach
Turning Complexity Into Clarity and Collaboration Into Action
At Decision Theater, we don’t offer one-size-fits-all answers, because there are no easy answers to today’s challenges. Instead, we help communities, agencies, and organizations make better decisions together, through a powerful human-centered and data-based approach.
Every Decision Theater project integrates three essential components, working in an iterative and mutually informative way that strengthens with each step:
Human-centered design
Immersive technology
Data analysis and modeling
Human-Centered Design
Tools built without the user in mind rarely get used. So when we say human-centered design is foundational to everything we do, it is because it is about more than empathy; it’s a method to intentionally build trust, clarity, and relevance into every stage of a project for a final product that is tailored to the exact needs of the moment. By engaging directly with communities and decisionmakers, we co-create solutions tailored to the specific questions, contexts, and needs that matter most. This approach ensures that what we build is not only inclusive, but also usable, trusted, and actionable, thereby helping move conversations from abstract ideals to real-world outcomes.
Immersive Technology
We make complexity visible, explorable, and actionable. From our multi-screen immersive environments to our portable field-based setups, Decision Theater uses advanced visualization tools to bring data, models, and scenarios to life. These technologies transform dense information into interactive and intuitive experiences, helping people see connections, understand consequences, and align around a path forward. Whether in rural communities or regional planning meetings, we deliver clarity at the speed and scale of real-world decisions.
Data Analysis & Modeling
We combine rigorous data science with modeling expertise to illuminate both what is happening and what could happen next. Our team integrates myriad high-quality datasets and builds interactive and dynamic predictive models grounded in both science and lived experience. Through iterative analysis and locally relevant use-case design, we surface critical patterns, test future scenarios, and clarify complex trade-offs. The result is a clear, evidence-based picture of where things stand, what’s at stake, and where smart decisions can lead.
Bringing these capabilities together on each project ensures decision support that is simultaneously:
• Data-based and user-friendly
• Complex yet understandable
• Grounded in real-world knowledge of diverse stakeholders
• Tailored to the specific decision-making needs and context
DT Regional Transformation
At Decision Theater, we don’t see the world’s challenges as separate issues to be solved in isolation. We see them as deeply interconnected systems, where choices in one domain ripple across many others. A plan for economic development must also consider workforce readiness and education pipelines. Infrastructure investments must account for environmental sustainability, public health, and community resilience. No single topic – whether health, housing, risk, or the environment – stands alone. That’s why we take a Regional Transformation approach.
Biosphere Regeneration
From water resources to land use, environmental systems sustain life and shape every other system around them. Regenerating the biosphere is not just an ecological necessity; it’s essential for public health, disaster preparedness, and the long-term viability of economies and communities.
Economic Ecosystems
A strong, adaptable economy depends on more than markets; it requires robust institutions, equitable access, and sustainable industries. Economic vitality is deeply influenced by workforce readiness, infrastructure investment, and environmental health, making it a central lever in regional transformation.
Education & Workforce
Education and workforce development are foundational to a thriving region, shaping not only economic opportunity but also civic resilience. These systems are closely tied to health, infrastructure, and economic mobility, meaning any transformation effort must consider alignment of skills, access, and educational pathways with a region’s future needs.
Technosphere Transformations
Infrastructure systems, such as power grids, transportation networks, and digital connectivity, form the backbone of regional functionality. As these systems evolve, they impact everything from educational access to environmental resilience, and must be reimagined to meet the demands of a more interconnected, climate-sensitive world.
Health
Health is both an outcome and a driver of regional wellbeing, influenced by factors ranging from air quality to education, transportation, and economic security. Advancing health means connecting individual care, public health systems, and the broader social determinants that shape how people live, work, and thrive.
Risk & Security
Natural disasters, system failures, and man-made disruptions pose growing risks to regional stability. Understanding and preparing for these threats requires a systems-level approach that connects emergency response to infrastructure, equity, and long-term resilience planning.
Our Locations
Decision Theater is active around the globe, with a mix of permanent installations, regional projects, mobile deployments, and short-term collaborations. This map reflects all the places where we’ve brought our immersive decisionmaking tools to life. Some of these locations are home to full-fledged Decision Theater nodes, forming our global DT Network. Others represent the growing reach of our methodology and the diverse communities we’ve supported on the path to informed, collaborative action.
DT Network
The Decision Theater Network is a growing constellation of immersive, collaborative spaces designed to meet regions where they are, while connecting them to shared tools, insights, and comparative strategies.
At the heart of the Network is our hub in Tempe, Arizona, embedded within Arizona State University and anchored by the university’s commitment to innovation, interdisciplinary research, and public impact. Surrounding this hub are an expanding set of ASU-affiliated nodes, including Washington D.C., Hawai’i, and Los Angeles, along with a set of external partner nodes such as our Berlin node with the Max Planck Institute. Each node adapts the Decision Theater methodology to its local context while contributing to a broader ecosystem of learning and discovery.
This distributed model allows us to:
• Build and sustain long-term partnerships that lead to deeper, more robust models and decision tools.
• Scale innovations by translating lessons from one region into actionable insights for others.
• Enable comparative decision science, revealing patterns and tradeoffs across geographies.
• Support ongoing engagement, not just one-time projects, building trust, shared language, and durable collaboration.
• Accelerate impact by combining localized expertise with global data and foresight.
Through the Decision Theater Network, we bring a systems-thinking approach to complex challenges while leveraging lessons learned in each locale to create a flexible, inclusive infrastructure for making smarter, more resilient decisions around the world.
Tempe, Arizona
Downtown Los Angeles
Kona, Hawai ‘ i
Our Partners
At Decision Theater, we collaborate with partners across sectors to collect and convey as comprehensive an understanding of the scenario as possible. Whether advancing policy, planning infrastructure, testing innovation, or aligning community priorities, our immersive, data-driven approach helps diverse stakeholders gain clarity, build consensus, and move forward with confidence.
We don’t just visualize information; we empower the co-creation of solutions. Here’s how we work with different types of partners to drive impact:
Government
(Municipal, Regional, State, Federal, and Military)
Government leaders face mounting pressure to make smart decisions in fast-changing, high-stakes environments. Decision Theater offers a trusted space to explore policies before they’re implemented by identifying unintended consequences, visualizing trade-offs, and building alignment across departments and stakeholders.
We integrate diverse datasets, simulate scenarios, and convene facilitated multi-agency engagements, supporting everything from climate resilience and transportation planning to defense strategy and emergency response.
What we offer:
• Data integration across silos for whole-system views
• Scenario simulations for infrastructure, risk, and policy decisions
• Support for consensus-building across departments or jurisdictions
• Tools for visualizing and communicating complex plans to the public
• Mobile and secure options for defense and sensitive government applications
Industry
In today’s volatile context, industries must manage risk, forecast change, and adapt in real time. Whether planning for supply chain resilience, workforce shifts, or sustainable growth, Decision Theater gives industry leaders the edge of decision intelligence.
We provide strategic foresight tools, immersive environments for deliberations, and interactive modeling platforms that integrate market data, stakeholder inputs, and emerging scenarios to guide high-stakes investments.
What we offer:
• Decision-support dashboards tailored to specific sectors
• AI-powered tools to test interventions and simulate economic scenarios
• Strategic planning environments for offsites and boardroom alignment
• Demonstrated ROI through smarter infrastructure, supply chain, talent, and ESG decisions
• Customizable and portable platforms that bring the experience to your HQ
Community
We believe decisions are stronger when shaped by the people they affect. That’s why we prioritize meaningful community engagement, especially in places where trust in institutions is fragile or where top-down approaches have failed.
For nonprofits, grassroots groups, and civic coalitions, we offer collaborative tools that make data accessible, amplify local perspectives, and foster shared understanding. Our facilitation team designs processes that prioritize inclusion, reduce barriers to participation, and help surface actionable ideas from the ground up.
What we offer:
• Co-creation processes rooted in humancentered design
• Visual tools to demystify data and make technical topics approachable
• Trust-building engagements that meet people where they are
• Planning support for resilience, resource equity, and local systems
• A portable theater that brings immersive experiences to communities where they are
Academia & Research Institutions
Great research deserves real-world reach. Decision Theater helps scholars and research teams translate and incorporate their findings into accessible, interactive decision tools that can inform policymakers, communities, and industry leaders alike.
Additionally, as a partner in knowledge creation and application, we collaborate with scientists, faculty, and academic centers to design integrated models, conduct participatory research, and expand the science of decision-making itself. Together, we turn academic excellence into societal impact.
What we offer:
• Collaborative platforms for translating research into decision-support tools
• Support for interdisciplinary, systems-level modeling and analysis
• Scalable visualizations for grant proposals, public engagement, and implementation
• Co-authored publications, educational modules, and joint course offerings
• A testbed for studying complex adaptive systems and decision-making dynamics
Our Foundation
ASU
Decision Theater is proudly embedded within the innovative Arizona State University and is aligned with its mission to serve the public good. Everything we do is grounded in the ASU Charter:
“Measured not by whom we exclude, but by whom we include and how they succeed; advancing research and discovery of public value; and assuming fundamental responsibility for the economic, social, cultural and overall health of the communities we serve.”
This mandate drives our focus on inclusive decisionmaking, real-world outcomes, and regionally grounded partnerships. We aren’t just modeling change; we’re helping communities and institutions create it.
Global Futures Laboratory
Decision Theater operates within ASU’s Global Futures Laboratory (GFL), an ambitious initiative uniting researchers, practitioners, and changemakers around the world to shape a more just, sustainable, and resilient future. GFL tackles humanity’s most pressing challenges, from planetary health and climate adaptation to biodiversity, water security, and equitable economies.
Our position in GFL gives us direct access to worldclass expertise, cross-disciplinary insight, and a global network of partners - all of which inform the tools we build and the systems we support. As GFL leads the charge on global transformation, Decision Theater translates vision into decision, turning futures thinking into informed action.
Complexity Science
At Decision Theater, complexity isn’t a challenge we avoid; it’s the nature of the world we work in. From shifting climates and regional health disparities to workforce dynamics and infrastructure planning, the systems we support are inherently complex and interconnected, involving multiple disciplines, feedback loops, co-evolutionary dynamics, and nonlinear behavior across time and scale. That’s why we partner closely with Arizona State University’s School of Complex Adaptive Systems (SCAS), a global leader in the science of dynamic, interdependent systems.
This partnership goes beyond common affiliation. Together, we are building next-generation decision platforms that don’t just visualize data, but mirror the real-world intricacies of human and environmental systems, helping users better anticipate outcomes, explore emergent risks, and design more resilient strategies.
SCAS provides cutting-edge expertise in complexity science and modeling, while Decision Theater offers real-world laboratories for exploring collective
decision-making and turning theory into action. SCAS researchers and students actively contribute to Decision Theater projects, while DT staff help shape SCAS’s educational and research missions. Together, we’re launching new interdisciplinary coursework and joint initiatives that train the next generation of systems thinkers, equipping them not only to understand the future, but to shape it.
Together, these institutional foundations give Decision Theater a unique edge:
• A mission-driven mandate to serve people and communities.
• A global lens for tackling interconnected challenges.
• And a scientific backbone for modeling the complexity of our world.
They shape who we are, how we work, and why we are trusted to support bold decisions in a rapidly changing world.
Contact Us
Need decision support?
Let’s make your complex challenge more clear and actionable.
If you’re facing a complex challenge, exploring a new initiative, or simply wondering how Decision Theater might support your work, we’d love to talk.
Our doors are open to all those who are looking for better ways to see and communicate the full picture, surface shared understanding, and shape what’s next. Whether you’re early in an idea or ready to launch a full project, we’re here to help you chart the path forward.
We offer a range of entry points, from exploratory meetings and strategy sessions to facilitated engagements, stakeholder workshops, and codeveloped project planning.
Reach out. Let’s explore what’s possible, together.
To transform decision making through the co-creation of data-driven tools, methods and experiences that engineer curiosity, explore possible futures and empower societies to address complex local and global challenges.
Decision Theater
