On Thursday, February 13, 2025, Aniya Hamilton and Tim Gelissen from the i4Policy team had the pleasure of leading a two-hour Decision Thinking by Doing Decision Thinking guest lecture at Utrecht University in the Netherlands. Invited by Professor Erik Stam, Assistant Professor Maria Greve and lecturer Anne-Sophie Halbertsma, who teach the Entrepreneurial Ecosystems and Economic Development course, they engaged with more than 30 students, introducing a hands-on approach to decision-making in policy development.
A lively start
We kicked off the session with a Rock, Paper, Scissors tournament where the energy peaked as everyone cheered on the two finalists in the championship round. This lighthearted exercise served as more than just an icebreaker—it set the tone for an interactive session where students were eager to engage with the content.
Decision Thinking in Practice
The core of our session was the “Decision Thinking by Doing Decision Thinking” training, a hands-on activity where students worked in pairs to design the perfect holiday for their partner. While seemingly playful, this exercise introduced key elements of structured decision-making:
- Empathising. Truly understanding another person’s needs before jumping to solutions.
- Defining the problem. Identifying key constraints and priorities.
- Exploring possibilities. Brainstorming creative and meaningful options.
- Refining ideas. Adjusting based on feedback and new insights.
By the end of the activity, students saw how structured decision-making models could be applied beyond personal choices—to organisational challenges, policy co-creation, and innovation.
From Concept to Real-World Impact
Following the hands-on exercise, we transitioned into theory and real-world application, using the Senegal Startup Act as a case study. We walked students through how citizens, entrepreneurs, and policymakers in Senegal co-created a national startup law using a decision-making framework similar to what they had just practiced.
The discussion sparked thoughtful questions, such as:
- “How do you secure buy-in from key decision-makers?”
- “How do you ensure the right stakeholders are included in the process?”
We shared insights on inclusivity, transparency, and strategic engagement, which were critical to making the Senegal Startup Act a reality.
Lasting Impressions
One of the highlights of the session was the level of engagement and curiosity the students exhibited. The energy in the room made it clear that they were eager to apply these concepts in their own work, namely the assignments we crafted for their semester challenge.
Feedback was overwhelmingly positive. Students appreciated the interactive format and the real-world application of decision thinking. One participant noted:
“I liked that the lecture was interactive. If we had only listened the entire time, it would have been harder to stay engaged.”
Another suggested including more case studies on the challenges entrepreneurs face—a great idea for future workshops.
Looking Ahead
This lecture was a reminder of the importance of practical learning experiences in shaping future decision-makers. At i4Policy, we are committed to sharing knowledge and creating spaces for collective problem-solving.
A big thank you to Utrecht University for the invitation and to the students for their enthusiasm and thought-provoking questions!
Further information
Find our “Decision Thinking by Doing Decision Thinking” workbook here
Read about the application of the ADDIS-process during the development of the Nigeria Startup Bill here More information about the course Entrepreneurial Ecosystems & Economic Development at Utrecht University here
Learn about the application of ADDIS in a plethora of African case studies here
Written by;
Aniya Hamilton and Tim Gelissen
