scholarly journals Holistic systems-thinking for policy coherence: A case study of socio-institutional challenges and opportunities for improved adoption of nature-based solutions

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cyndi Castro
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
Cognitive Mapping ◽  
Policy Design ◽  
Management Strategies ◽  
Dynamics Modeling ◽  
Policy Coherence ◽  
Data Intensive ◽  
Trade Offs ◽  
Challenges And Opportunities

Nature-based solutions (NBSs) are often managed according to hydro-environmental characteristics that disregard the complex interactions between decision-makers, society, and the environment. Numerous barriers to NBS adoption have been identified as stemming from human behavior (e.g., community buy-in, political will, culture), yet we lack an understanding of how such factors interrelate to inform policy design. The identification of synergies and trade-offs among diverse management strategies is necessary to generate optimal results from limited institutional resources. System dynamics modeling (SDM) has been used within the environmental community to aid decision-making by bringing together diverse stakeholders and defining their shared understanding of complex behavior. While these approaches have enhanced collaboration efforts and have increased awareness of complexity, SDM models often result in numerous feedback loops that are difficult to disentangle without further, data-intensive modeling. When investigating the complexities of human decision-making, we often lack robust empirical datasets for SDM quantification. An alternative to SDM is fuzzy cognitive mapping (FCM), which combines the strengths of stakeholder knowledge with network theory to produce semi-quantitative scenarios of system change. However, sole reliance upon computer-simulated outputs may obscure our understanding of the underlying system behavior. Therefore, the aim of this study is to assess the applicability and strength of combining SDM and FCM to both identify areas of policy coherence from stakeholder engagement and also to explain the emergence of synergies and trade-offs according to causal loop logic. This framework is demonstrated through a case study of NBS policy-making and socio-institutional feedbacks in Houston, Texas, USA.

Objective and Subjective Aspects of Decision-Making Support at the Mesoeconomic Level

2016 ◽  
pp. 183-215
Author(s):  
Anastasia Y. Nikitaeva
Keyword(s):  
Data Mining ◽  
Decision Making ◽  
Cognitive Mapping ◽  
Objective Data ◽  
Management Effectiveness ◽  
Cognitive Approach ◽  
Multi Attribute Utility Theory ◽  
On Line ◽  
Analytical Processing

This chapter substantiates the importance of improving management effectiveness of mesoeconomic systems in current economic conditions and the features of mesoeconomy as a management object which defines the high complexity of decision making at the meso level. There are approaches, methods, and technologies which provide support of the decision making process via the integration of formal methods for objective data analysis and methods of accounting to solve semi-structured complex problems of mesoeconomy. A cognitive approach, and an approach involving the integration of the On-Line Analytical Processing and Data mining technologies with methods of a multi-criteria assessment of alternative, in particular methods of Multi-Attribute Utility Theory are considered in the chapter. Cognitive mapping of interaction between state and business in a mesoeconomic system are included as a case-study.

scholarly journals Decision Making in Psychiatric Reform: A Case Study of the Czech Experience

2019 ◽  
Vol 13 (2) ◽  
pp. 15-27
Author(s):  
Christopher G. Hudson ◽  
Eva Dragomirecka
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Decision Making ◽  
Community Mental Health ◽  
Planning Process ◽  
The United States ◽  
Soviet Bloc ◽  
Case Study Methodology ◽  
Psychiatric Reform ◽  
Trade Offs

Abstract This study examines the initial impact of a broadly participatory planning process in the Czech Republic during 2016–2017, aimed at both reducing inpatient care and expanding community mental health systems, on policy and programmatic decision making. A central focus of the study involves the trade-offs between and efforts to integrate shared decision making with evidence-based planning methods within the context of a national psychiatric reform strategy, particularly one involving a former Soviet bloc state. Given the uniqueness of the Czech experience, an exploratory case study methodology is used, one involving ten interviews with key informants and examination of a wide variety of documents. Results include the development of broad new decision and oversight structures, and the initial implementation of community mental health services. The nation faces some of the same trade-offs found elsewhere, such as in the United States, between an inclusive participatory process, and one that systematically incorporates empirical rational and evidence and best practices within bounded parameters. Implications for new psychiatric deinstitutionalization initiatives are identified, including development of a national mental health authority, a professional workforce, new funding strategies, multi-level service coordination, mechanisms to assure transparency, among others.

scholarly journals Observational Scale Matters for Ecosystem Services Interactions and Spatial Distributions: A Case Study of the Ussuri Watershed, China

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (19) ◽  
pp. 10649
Author(s):  
Jian Zhang ◽  
Hengxing Xiang ◽  
Shizuka Hashimoto ◽  
Toshiya Okuro
Keyword(s):  
Ecosystem Services ◽  
Carbon Sequestration ◽  
Water Retention ◽  
Management Strategies ◽  
Landscape Patterns ◽  
Spatial Distributions ◽  
The Sustainable Development ◽  
Trade Offs ◽  
Soil Retention

Understanding how observational scale affects the interactions and spatial distributions of ecosystem services is important for effective ecosystem assessment and management. We conducted a case study in the Ussuri watershed, Northeast China, to explore how observational scale (1 km to 15 km grid resolution) influences the correlations and spatial distributions of ecosystem services. Four ecosystem services of particular importance for the sustainable development of the study area were examined: carbon sequestration, habitat provision, soil retention, and water retention. Across the observational scales examined, trade-offs and synergies of extensively distributed ecosystem services were more likely to be robust compared with those of sparsely distributed ecosystem services, and hot/cold-spots of ecosystem services were more likely to persist when associated with large rather than small land-cover patches. Our analysis suggests that a dual-purpose strategy is the most appropriate for the management of carbon sequestration and habitat provision, and cross-scale management strategies are the most appropriate for the management of soil retention and water retention in the study area. Further studies to deepen our understanding of local landscape patterns will help determine the most appropriate observational scale for analyzing the spatial distributions of these ecosystem services.

Objective and Subjective Aspects of Decision-Making Support at the Mesoeconomic Level

2020 ◽  
pp. 882-914
Author(s):  
Anastasia Y. Nikitaeva
Keyword(s):  
Data Mining ◽  
Decision Making ◽  
Cognitive Mapping ◽  
Objective Data ◽  
Management Effectiveness ◽  
Cognitive Approach ◽  
Multi Attribute Utility Theory ◽  
On Line ◽  
Analytical Processing

This chapter substantiates the importance of improving management effectiveness of mesoeconomic systems in current economic conditions and the features of mesoeconomy as a management object which defines the high complexity of decision making at the meso level. There are approaches, methods, and technologies which provide support of the decision making process via the integration of formal methods for objective data analysis and methods of accounting to solve semi-structured complex problems of mesoeconomy. A cognitive approach, and an approach involving the integration of the On-Line Analytical Processing and Data mining technologies with methods of a multi-criteria assessment of alternative, in particular methods of Multi-Attribute Utility Theory are considered in the chapter. Cognitive mapping of interaction between state and business in a mesoeconomic system are included as a case-study.

scholarly journals Decision-Making Process in the Circular Economy: A Case Study on University Food Waste-to-Energy Actions in Latin America

Energies ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 13 (9) ◽  
pp. 2291
Author(s):  
Laura Brenes-Peralta ◽  
María F. Jiménez-Morales ◽  
Rooel Campos-Rodríguez ◽  
Fabio De Menna ◽  
Matteo Vittuari
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
Global Warming ◽  
Anaerobic Digestion ◽  
Food Waste ◽  
Global Warming Potential ◽  
Waste To Energy ◽  
Life Cycle Thinking ◽  
Analytic Hierarchy ◽  
Trade Offs

Economies have begun to shift from linear to circular, adopting, among others, waste-to-energy approaches. Waste management is known to be a paramount challenge, and food waste (FW) in particular, has gained the interest of several actors due to its potential impacts and energy recovery opportunities. However, the selection of alternative valorization scenarios can pose several queries in certain contexts. This paper evaluates four FW valorization scenarios based on anaerobic digestion and composting, in comparison to landfilling, by applying a consistent decision-making framework through a combination of linear programming, Life Cycle Thinking (LCT), and Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP). The evaluation was built upon a case study of five universities in Costa Rica and portrayed the trade-offs between environmental impacts and cost categories from the scenarios and their side flows. Results indicate that the landfill scenario entails higher Global Warming Potential and Fresh Water Eutrophication impacts than the valorization scenarios; however, other impact categories and costs are affected. Centralized recovery facilities can increase the Global Warming Potential and the Land Use compared to semi-centralized ones. Experts provided insights, regarding the ease of adoption of composting, in contrast to the potential of energy sources substitution and economic savings from anaerobic digestion.

scholarly journals A Life Cycle Sustainability Assessment-Based Decision-Analysis Framework

2018 ◽  
Vol 10 (11) ◽  
pp. 3863 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marwa Hannouf ◽  
Getachew Assefa
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
Life Cycle ◽  
Decision Analysis ◽  
Sustainability Assessment ◽  
Three Dimensions ◽  
Life Cycle Sustainability Assessment ◽  
Analysis Framework ◽  
Product Systems ◽  
Trade Offs

One of the main challenges in using life cycle sustainability assessment (LCSA) is the difficulty of integrating the interrelationships between the three dimensions (environmental, economic and social dimensions) of LCSA results in decision-making toward proposing sustainability improvements for existing product systems. This paper is addressing this challenge by presenting an LCSA-based decision-analysis framework, which is a systematic and structured framework that appraises the pool of potential actions determined based on LCSA results and evaluates their trade-offs to propose potential sustainability solutions. The framework is composed of two parts: (a) LCSA application; (b) decision-analysis approach. The decision analysis part of the framework is built based on some features from previous decision-making approaches and considering the characteristics of LCSA results. The decision-analysis part of the framework, which is the main focus of this study, is divided into five phases to propose and select some recommendations to improve the sustainability performance of product systems. The framework developed is illustrated using results from a previous LCSA case study. The framework can handle the complexity in understanding the interrelationships between the three dimensions of LCSA results, through a structured way of dividing the process into manageable steps. Further work is still needed to apply this framework to a real case study.

scholarly journals An Application of Structured Decision Making Process in Approaching Deforestation and Promoting Sustainable Forest Management of Sylhet, Bangladesh

2020 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
pp. 525-541
Author(s):  
A. F. M. Zakaria
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
Developing Countries ◽  
Forest Management ◽  
Sustainable Forest Management ◽  
Structured Decision Making ◽  
Stakeholder Groups ◽  
Forest Depletion ◽  
Challenges And Opportunities ◽  
Alternative Approaches

Deforestation is a global phenomenon with a critical recognition. It is very visible mostly in developing countries in Asia and Southern America. In many regions where forest loss is significant, so much effort has been garnered towards protecting the natural forest and promoting sustainable forest management (SFM). Evidence of such efforts includes the various policies, principles, and frameworks put in place both at the international and domestic levels. Despite these efforts, forest depletion continues to thrive at alarming rates particularly in developing countries like Bangladesh. This paper brings out a plethora of complex causes and consequences of deforestation in Sylhet, Bangladesh, with the principal objective of using a structured decision-making (SDM) approach to address deforestation in Sylhet through a pluralistic stakeholder engagement that represents all the objectives of the various groups in a very understandable manner. Mainly deploying FGD to consult with different stakeholder groups, representing different interests working through the steps of SDM, the consultations developed a SDM framework with suggested alternative approaches towards addressing deforestation in Sylhet, Bangladesh. Based on the judgments of the consultations, suitable policy options for addressing deforestation in Sylhet, Bangladesh should focus on maximizing forest management, minimizing dependence on forest resources, and Alternative ‘A’ (Safe guarding forest by improving forest management). This case study provides insights on how SDM can be implemented for SFM in Sylhet, as well as some challenges and opportunities encountered during the process.

scholarly journals A holistic framework for reshaping urban energy infrastructure in Global South cities, a case study of the Greater Cairo Region, Egypt

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yesmeen Khalifa ◽  
Sharon George ◽  
Philip Catney
Keyword(s):  
Global South ◽  
Trade Offs ◽  
Sectoral Planning ◽  
Challenges And Opportunities ◽  
Urban Energy ◽  
Greater Cairo ◽  
Development Context ◽  
Circular Flows ◽  
Greater Cairo Region

Abstract Key Messages- Cities are complex systems that need integrated approaches to understand their characteristics and to identify challenges and opportunities for sustainable development.- Context-based and tailored solutions are required for achieving SDGs and developing circular flows. This is particularly important in the Global South.- Integrated and cross-sectoral planning and collaboration are necessary to improve the development of sustainable strategies and interventions to reduce trade-offs. Areas like the Greater Cairo Region in Egypt demonstrate the complexities of action across formal/informal sectors of waste management.

BRIDGE MAINTENANCE DECISION-MAKING MODEL

2021 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Wisalee Nimmahnpatchrin ◽  
Ghada M Gad
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
Asset Management ◽  
Management Strategies ◽  
Good Condition ◽  
Effective Practices ◽  
Bridge Management ◽  
Bridge Maintenance ◽  
Maintenance Decision ◽  
Decision Making Model

As bridge infrastructure continues to age and deteriorate, maintenance is essential for keeping the bridges in good condition. However, owners have limited funds, thus, they need to select the most suitable maintenance option at the right time to minimize the cost. With all the advancements in processes and tools used to manage the bridge infrastructure, many US States continue to report high numbers of structurally deficient bridges, one of which is California State Department of Transportation (Caltrans). The objective of this study is (1) identifying effective practices used by owners in bridge maintenance management and (2) developing a decision-making model to maintain the bridges, using Caltrans as a case study. To achieve this objective, the methodology of the study is divided into three steps: (1) a review of the current state of practice of bridge maintenance decision-making processes and bridge asset management strategies currently used by US Department of Transportations (DOTs) that had shown improvement in their bridge management strategies, (2) a conducted in-depth case study of the Caltrans maintenance decision-making practices, (3) based on both the review of literature and the data collected from the case study, a revised bridge maintenance decision-making process is developed and presented using a swim lane diagram. The proposed model builds on exiting DOTs’ effective practices and optimizes the selection of bridge maintenance decisions, including repair, rehabilitation, and replacement. The developed maintenance decision-making framework could potentially improve the effectiveness of bridge maintenance operations and help decision-makers effectively select and prioritize the bridge maintenance options.

scholarly journals Strategic management decision-making in a complex world: quantifying, understanding, and using trade-offs

2015 ◽  
Vol 74 (2) ◽  
pp. 499-510 ◽  
Author(s):  
André E. Punt
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
Management Strategies ◽  
Single Species ◽  
Decision Makers ◽  
Strategic Decision ◽  
Management Decision ◽  
Management Objectives ◽  
Trade Offs ◽  
States Of Nature ◽  
Strategic Advice

The use of management strategy evaluation (MSE) techniques to inform strategic decision-making is now standard in fisheries management. The technical aspects of MSE, including how to design operating models that represent the managed system and how to simulate future use of management strategies, are well understood and can be readily applied, especially for single-species fisheries. However, MSE evaluations seldom identify strategies that will satisfy all the objectives of decision-makers simultaneously, i.e. each strategy will achieve a different trade-off among the objectives. This study illustrates the basis for identifying management objectives and representing them mathematically using performance measures, as well as how trade-offs among management objectives have been displayed to various audiences who provide input into decision-making. Approaches and experiences are illustrated using case studies. Examples highlight the wide variety of objectives that can be considered using MSE, but that traditional single-species considerations continue to dominate the information provided to decision-makers. The desirability and consequences of having minimum acceptable standards of performance for management strategies, as well as difficulties assigning plausibility ranks to alternative states of nature, are found to be among the major challenges to effective provision of strategic advice on trade-offs among management strategies.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document