Strategic Economic Needs and Security Exercise (SENSE)

The Strategic Economic Needs and Security Exercise (SENSE), originally developed by the Institute for Defense Analyses (IDA), is a computer-based simulation that focuses on negotiations and decision-making in a post-conflict environment. SENSE simulates the resource allocation challenges confronting national and international decision-makers. The sophisticated computer support provides participants with rapid feedback on the results of their time-sensitive decision-making aimed at building political stability, social justice, and a foundation for economic progress. But the primary activity in SENSE is negotiation between and among those participating in the simulation. SENSE has been used in the Balkans, the Caucasus, and Iraq as well as the U.S. It is now being introduced in Poland and neighboring countries.

To view information on upcoming SENSE Simulations, see our Courses/Simulations section. 

For more information on SENSE, download SENSE Fact Sheet. (PDF - 124KB)

Recent Highlights

Institute Staff Participates in SENSE Simulation  

April 22, 2009

On Wednesday, April 22, the Institute’s Education and Training Center/International (ETC/I) hosted a half-day demonstration of the Strategic Economic Needs and   Security Exercise (SENSE) for members of the Institute staff and a handful of outside guests. SENSE is a computer-facilitated simulation that models... <more> 

Past SENSE Simulations 

Training USIP's Iraqi SENSE Team in Istanbul
Oct. 28-Nov. 8, 2008
USIP's effort to re-launch our SENSE program in Iraq was successfully initiated October 28th through November 8th, 2008 during an intensive training session in Istanbul, Turkey.  Five USIP staff members from DC, as well as four DC SENSE team members, were joined there by 21 members of... <more>

SENSE and Conflict Management Training (Baghdad, Iraq)
March 1-5, 2007
With tremendous support from the Institute’s Baghdad Office, the Iraq Institute for Economic Reform (IIER) conducted a five-day SENSE and Conflict Management training exercise for... <more>
 

Professional Development and SENSE Workshop (Warsaw, Poland)
July 17-21, 2006
The Professional Training Program, in cooperation with the Institute for Defense Analyses (IDA), recently partnered with the Polish Ministry of National Defense to conduct a five-day... <more>

SENSE: Dokan, Iraq
January 29- February 4, 2006
Since early in 2005, the Professional Training Program has focused its efforts on supporting the Iraq Institute of Economic Reform (IIER) in its goal of establishing an Iraqi-managed... <more>

Strategic Economic Needs and Security Exercise (SENSE)
June 1-11, 2005
Following 2004´s training workshops for Iraqi national security officials (conducted in the U.S.) and for community leaders/civic activists (conducted in Baghdad and Sulaymaniyah)... <more>

Fifth Workshop with Iraqi National Security Officials
September 13-23, 2004
The fifth USIP workshop with Iraqi Officials held in Washington, DC was from September 13 through September 23, 2004. The group of 52 participants included men and women from a... <more>

Fourth Workshop with Senior Iraqi National Security Officials
June 21- July 2, 2004
The fourth USIP workshop was the largest yet; 57 Iraqis trained with the Institute. Many were Defense Ministry officials or military officers who had just completed a week of training... <more>

Workshop with Senior Iraqi National Security Officials on Building Iraq's Future
May 17-26, 2004
In the third of a series of workshops for Iraqi national security officials, USIP hosted twenty Iraqis, most of whom are occupying senior leadership positions in Iraq´s Ministries... <more>

Workshop with Iraqi Defense Ministry Officials
March 8- April 3, 2004
In partnership with National Defense University´s Near East - South Asia Center for Strategic Studies (NESA), the Institute has conducted the first two of a series of four... <more>

Serb and Kosovar Young Leaders Rebuild
September 10-12, 2002
Young political and civic leaders from Serbia and Kosovo, together with officials from USAID, successfully stabilized and began the reconstruction of the fictitious post-conflict... <more>