Data to decisions: Nine strategies for even more effective scientific advisory panels

In decades of facilitating fishery advisory panels, I've observed recurring impediments that limit their ability to move from data analysis to prescriptive recommendations. Insights from organizational psychology and decision science help name these four patterns: lack of organizational competence, role conflict, status quo bias, and ambiguity aversion. This article presents nine strategies to help panels manage these impediments and improve both the panelist experience and the creation of actionable recommendations.