Decision Aids for Planning in the Real World

Planning the use of resources is an increasingly complex business as environmental and social concerns become more explicit and decisive. Many groups of people are affected, so that decisions have to be made from several viewpoints and with several criteria. Decision‐makers must not only apply the criteria which represent their own interests, but must also estimate the opinions and reactions of other affected people. If a decision is to be effective, these parties need to know how it was arrived at and to feel that it is their decision. The paper uses a simple example and two case studies to describe decision aids, designed as means of (i) communication and persuasion, and (ii) analysis. Important characteristics are (a) transparency, (b) attention to presentation, and (c) grouping of criteria.