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Planning of the Process

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Framing of the Problem

Framing of the problem defines the decision context and the dimensions of the analysis. The aim is that after this phase the problem is defined clearly and meaningfully and that all stakeholders interpret the problem similarly.


 

Framing of the Problem

Identifying Key Stakeholders

Identification of key stakeholders and including them in the process is extremely important in environmental decisions, as these decisions typically concern many different groups

Identifying Key Stakeholders

Identifying Key Stakeholders

The choice of the method should depend on the needs of the case, as no approach is universally suitable for every problem. 

Selecting the Decision Analysis Approach

Designing the Application Process of Decision Analysis

This phase focuses on how the process of carrying out decision analysis will be organised and implemented in practice.

Designing the Application

Suggested reading

  • Kiker, G.A., Bridges, T.S., Varghese, A., Seager, T.P., Linkov, I. (2005). Application of multicriteria decision analysis in environmental decision making. Integrated Environmental Assessment and Management, 1(2), 95–108. https://doi.org/10.1897/IEAM_2004a-015.1
  • Hajkowicz, S., Collins, K. (2007). A review of multiple criteria analysis for water resource planning and management. Water Resources Management, 21(9), 1553–1566. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11269-006-9112-5
  • Bayley, C., French, S. (2008). Designing a participatory process for stakeholder involvement in a societal decision. Group Decision and Negotiation, 17(3), 195–210. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10726-007-9076-8
  • Reed, M.S. (2008). Stakeholder participation for environmental management: A literature review. Biological Conservation, 141(10), 2417–2431. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biocon.2008.07.014
  • Dodgson, J.S., Spackman, M., Pearman, A., Phillips, L.D. (2009). Multi-Criteria Analysis: A Manual. Department for Communities and Local Government, London, U.K. https://researchonline.lse.ac.uk/id/eprint/12761/1/Multi-criteria_Analysis.pdf
  • Huang, I.B., Keisler, J., Linkov, I. (2011). Multi-criteria decision analysis in environmental sciences: Ten years of applications and trends. Science of the Total Environment, 409(19), 3578–3594. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2011.06.022
  • Marttunen, M., Mustajoki, J., Dufva, M., Karjalainen, T.P. (2015). How to design and realize participation of stakeholders in MCDA processes? A framework for selecting an appropriate approach. EURO Journal on Decision Processes, 3(1), 187–214. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40070-013-0016-3
  • Adem Esmail, B., Geneletti, D. (2018). Multi‐criteria decision analysis for nature conservation: A review of 20 years of applications. Methods in Ecology and Evolution, 9(1), 42–53. https://doi.org/10.1111/2041-210X.12899
  • Cinelli, M., Kadziński, M., Gonzalez, M., Słowiński, R. (2020). How to support the application of multiple criteria decision analysis? Let us start with a comprehensive taxonomy. Omega, 96, 102261. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.omega.2020.102261
  • Cinelli, M., Kadziński, M., Miebs, G., Gonzalez, M., Słowiński, R. (2022). Recommending multiple criteria decision analysis methods with a new taxonomy-based decision support system. European Journal of Operational Research, 302(2), 633–651. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ejor.2022.01.011
     

See also suggestions from previous section.