Experiment on decision-making approaches for complex water management issues (original) (raw)
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Real world decision-aiding: a case of participatory water management
In this chapter we present a proposal for decisionaiding in a participatory situation in the real world may constitute, in particular for water management. We first outline the context in which these decisionaiding processes take place: "messy" interorganizational settings. We then present some of the available decisionaiding theories and models that could be used, and adapt one of these, a decisionaiding process model based on Tsoukiàs , for this inter organizational context. We next highlight how the model was used in a research intervention for the creation of the Lower Hawkesbury Estuary Management Plan in Australia. We demonstrate how this model significantly aided the structuring of the decisionaiding process and promoted insights on its usefulness and validity. We also provide an expost operational validation of the Mazri (2007) decision aiding model for participatory structure design. From the realworld intervention case we also justify our claims that: 1) we need decisionaiding methodologies to improve interorganizational decisionmaking for water management, as well as theoretical models and problem structuring methods that can form useful parts of these methodologies; and 2) we need negotiation skills, amongst others, for putting the methodologies in place in the real world.
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Planning and management of water resources are faced with increasingly high levels of complexity, uncertainty and conflict. Traditional technical and top-down management strategies have proved inadequate, forcing a move to more "integrated" forms of management, planning and decision making that can include stakeholders and communities, as well as technical experts and policy makers. These integrated forms of management require not only good technical or scientific ability, but a range of "art-like" skills including communication, creativity and the capacity to acknowledge and integrate diverse points of view. However, processes designed to aid such inter-organisational or multi-stakeholder decisionmaking are rare and in need of investigation. This paper proposes a process of "participatory modelling" using a series of semi-structured collective decision cycles that can aid decisions involving multiple stakeholders in water management and planning. The participatory modelling process outlined in this paper is designed to capture and integrate both tacit and explicit knowledge from stakeholders, right from the problem identification phase through to the final decision making, implementation and ongoing monitoring and evaluation. A brief idealised example of the participatory modelling process testing in Montpellier, France, is highlighted, as well as further questions and identified priority research areas.
Real-World Decision Aiding: A Case in Participatory Water Management
In this chapter we present a proposal for decision-aiding i ticipatory situation in the real world may constitute, in particular for wa agement. We first outline the context in which these decision-aiding p take place: "messy" inter-organizational settings. We then present som available decision-aiding theories and models that could be used, and ada these, a decision-aiding process model based on Tsoukiàs , for th organizational context. We next highlight how the model was used in a intervention for the creation of the Lower Hawkesbury Estuary Managemen in Australia. We demonstrate how this model significantly aided the struc the decision-aiding process and promoted insights on its usefulness and val We also provide an ex-post operational validation of the Mazri (2007) d aiding model for participatory structure design. From the real-world inte case we also justify our claims that: 1) we need decision-aiding methodo improve inter-organizational decision-mak th these methodologies; and ting the methodologies in place in the real world.
According to the definition provided by the Global Water Partnership (GWP), Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM) “is a process which promotes the coordinated development and management of water, land and related resources, in order to maximise the resultant economic and social welfare in an equitable manner without compromising the sustainability of vital ecosystems” (GWP-TAC, 2000). The emphasis is thus on the coordinated development and management of water and land resources, with the shared objective of maximising socio-economic welfare in such a way that key ecosystem functions are maintained. IWRM adopts the principles of ecological sciences in terms of system approaches and technical and analytical tools to tackle water management problems. A common paradigm within the context of IWRM is the relevance of the participatory approach, which is becoming a prerequisite of every legislation and plan. According to the GWP again, Public Participation (PP) requires “that stakeholders at all levels of the social structure have an impact on decisions at different levels of water management”. Only PP at all levels (international, national regional and local) may assure transparency and accountability of the policy/decision process. In the field of water management, integrated approaches to the resource imply the need for considering the social aspects of water use, as well as the economic and environmental spheres.
Participatory analysis of the Jucar-Vinalopo (Spain) water conflict using a Decision Support System
New water policies around the world are demanding more integrated, participatory, sustainable, efficient, and equitable planning and management of water resources. All this considerations introduce a higher degree of complexity into the already complex task of integrated water resources management. In the process of making good decisions, information must be managed and analyzed about the feasible alternatives, their impact on the multiple objectives, the tradeoffs among them, as well as risks associated with them. To elaborate and analyze such information, sound science, technology, and expertise have to be involved. Moreover, tools for data management and analysis, and models are needed in order to cope with the complexity, the basin scale scope, and the huge amount of information, alternatives, and scenarios. But frequently, decision makers, stakeholders and general public, that is, Policy Making Actors (PMA), are not prepared to produce and understand such information. Therefore...
Real world decision-aiding: a case of water management
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In this chapter we present a proposal for decision-aiding i ticipatory situation in the real world may constitute, in particular for wa agement. We first outline the context in which these decision-aiding p take place: “messy” inter-organizational settings. We then present som available decision-aiding theories and models that could be used, and ada these, a decision-aiding process model based on Tsoukiàs (2007), for th organizational context. We next highlight how the model was used in a intervention for the creation of the Lower Hawkesbury Estuary Managemen in Australia. We demonstrate how this model significantly aided the struc the decision-aiding process and promoted insights on its usefulness and val We also provide an ex-post operational validation of the Mazri (2007) d aiding model for participatory structure design. From the real-world inte case we also justify our claims that: 1) we need decision-aiding methodo improve inter-organizational decision-mak th these methodologi...
Integrated Deliberative Decision Processes For Water Resources Planning And Evaluation
This Guidance Document is part of the ADVISOR (“Integrated Evaluation for Sustainable River Basin Governance”) research project funded by the European Commission, under the “Energy, Environment and Sustainable Development” theme of the 5th Framework Research Programme. The aim of ADVISOR is to improve the understanding of evaluation processes as part of river basin planning and management and to provide a framework supported by a toolkit for the conduct of integrated and participatory evaluations. Work Package 1 of the project examined past water project or plan evaluation cases in five EU states and drew insights on the problems of past evaluation practices. Work Package 2 interpreted these past experiences from different analytical angles leading to a theory for an integrated evaluation process, emphasising issues of deliberation, multiple values, quality in the use of information and governance. Work Package 3 moved from theory to practice. Different tools which could contribute ...
Land Use Policy, 2006
This article presents an integrated methodological approach (IMA) for participatory multi-criteria decision support under uncertainty , which emerged from the debates about participation, multi-criteria analysis (MCA) and benefit-cost analysis (BCA). It provides a framework for participatory evaluation processes and combines BCA and MCA to support large-scale public decisions. While IMA does not claim to realise an all-inclusive participation scheme, it offers the advantage to improve the quality of decision making through advances in competence and fairness. Its practical application with emphasis on its participatory elements is demonstrated by the case study on the water allocation conflict in the watershed of the German Spree River. r 1 Habermas distinguishes four categories of rationality: (1) scientific and technological rationality, (2) the way of thinking utilised in law and morality, (3) the rationality of art and art criticism, and (4) the communicative rationality as the cooperative use of the first three rationalities (Webler 1995, 40 f.).