Decision Analysis Support Services |
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Water managers and others charged with making public policy decisions are often faced with complexity and uncertainty, multiple and sometimes competing objectives, and different perspectives among stakeholders regarding the alternatives. For these decision makers, perhaps no task is more difficult than balancing the many environmental, economic, technical, and legal objectives and implications to determine which strategy or alternative will best fulfill all those objectives and enjoy public acceptance.
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How Can Decision Analysis Benefit You?
Resolving differences among groups of stakeholders with diverse opinions.
Avoiding expensive studies on issues that turn out to be noncrucial to the decision by isolating the key uncertainties and risks that influence the decision.
Providing a “decision audit trail” of evidence documenting the inclusion of stakeholder values and resolution of concerns in the decision process. This curbs the temptation to stop everything and start all over again.
Incorporating sensitivity analyses to explore whether the preferred alternatives are likely to vary when more information becomes available regarding technical uncertainties or value judgments.
Ultimately, reaching a defensible decision and widespread acceptance among stakeholders, which saves time and money.
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To help managers make these complex decisions, Daniel B. Stephens & Associates, Inc. (DBS&A) offers expertise in implementing decision-analysis methods, including:
Multiattribute utility analysis
(MUA)
Analytical hierarchy
Decision tree methods
Because most public policy decisions involve factors that are not easily quantified (value judgments as opposed to technical judgments), the process incorporates information from technical and legal specialists knowledgeable about the alternatives, and from stakeholders impacted by the outcome of the potential strategies. In addition to providing the information needed to make an effective decision, involvement of these groups lays the groundwork for widespread support when the selected strategy is implemented.
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Michael Bitner, P.G., R.G.
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DBS&A eases the decision process with its many years of experience in helping municipalities, water planning regions, river agencies, and groundwater districts.
Michael Bitner, P.G., R.G., leads DBS&A’s Decision Analysis discipline. Mr. Bitner’s has 20 years of experience working with clients to solve environmental problems and meet water resource goals. He holds an M.S. degree in hydrology and water resources management. Mr. Bitner has used decision analysis to aid in selection of water resource alternatives for several major water utilities facing water crises in the Southwest.
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Graphical displays are used as aids for understanding decision concepts and issues.
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