scholarly journals Can We Build an Evidence Base on the Impact of Systems Thinking for Wicked Problems? Comment on "What Can Policy-Makers Get Out of Systems Thinking? Policy Partners’ Experiences of a Systems-Focused Research Collaboration in Preventive Health"

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Diane T. Finegood
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
Systems Thinking ◽  
Research Collaboration ◽  
Evidence Base ◽  
Informed Decision ◽  
Informed Decision Making ◽  
Policy Makers ◽  
Health Related ◽  
Policies And Programs ◽  
The Impact

The published literature on the application of systems thinking to influence policies and programs has grown in recent years. The original article by Haynes et al and the subsequent commentaries have focused on the upstream connection between capacity building for systems thinking and systems informed decision-making. This commentary explores the downstream connection between systems-informed decision-making and broader impacts on the health system, the health of the population and other economic and social benefits. Storytelling, systems-based syntheses and systems intervention principles are explored as approaches to strengthen the evidence base. For systems thinking to gain broader acceptance and application to complex health-related challenges, we need more of an evidence base demonstrating impact.

scholarly journals Research use at the Ministry of Health in Burkina Faso: the decision-makers’ perspective

2021 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Christian Dagenais
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
Knowledge Transfer ◽  
Burkina Faso ◽  
Informed Decision ◽  
Communication Strategy ◽  
Decision Makers ◽  
Research Use ◽  
Informed Decision Making ◽  
Ministry Of Health ◽  
Policy Makers

Abstract Background Despite the increased emphasis placed on the use of evidence for policy development, relatively few initiatives have been developed to support evidence-informed decision-making, especially in West Africa. Moreover, studies examining the conditions under which policy-makers use research-based evidence are still scarce, but they show that their attitudes and opinions about research are one of the main determinants of such use. In February 2017, Burkina Faso’s Minister of Health planned to create a unit to promote evidence-informed decision-making within the ministry. Before the unit was set up, documenting the attitudes towards research at the highest levels of his Ministry appeared profitable to the unit’s planning. Method Individual interviews were conducted by the author with 14 actors positioned to consider evidence during decision-making from the Burkina Faso’s Minister of health cabinet. An interview grid was used to explore several themes such as attitudes towards research, obstacles and facilitators to research use, example of research use in decision-making and finally, ways to increase decision-makers’ participation in knowledge transfer activities. Interviews were partially transcribed and analysed by the author. Results The results show a mixed attitude towards research and relatively little indication of research use reported by respondents. Important obstacles were identified: evidence inaccessibility, lack of implementation guidelines, absence of clear communication strategy and studies’ lack of relevance for decision-making. Many suggestions were proposed such as raising awareness, improving access and research communication and prioritizing interactions with researchers. Respondents agree with the low participation of decision-makers in knowledge transfer activities: more leadership from the senior officials was suggested and greater awareness of the importance of their presence. Conclusions The conclusion presents avenues for reflection and action to increase the potential impact of the knowledge transfer unit planned within the Ministry of Health of Burkina Faso. This innovative initiative will be impactful if the obstacles identified in this study and policy-makers’ preferences and needs are taken into account during its development and implementation.

A Risk-Informed Decision Making Methodology for Evaluating Failure Impact of Early System Designs

2008 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tolga Kurtoglu ◽  
Irem Y. Tumer
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
System Development ◽  
Informed Decision ◽  
System Level ◽  
Analysis Tool ◽  
Informed Decision Making ◽  
Simulation Based ◽  
System Risk ◽  
Guide System ◽  
The Impact

In this paper, we introduce a new risk-informed decision-making methodology for use during early design of complex systems. The proposed approach is based on the notion that a failure happens when a functional element in the system does not perform its intended task. Accordingly, risk is defined depending on the role of functionality in accomplishing designed tasks. A simulation-based failure analysis tool is used to analyze functional failures and their impact on overall system functionality. The analysis results are then integrated into a decision-making framework that relates the impact of functional failures and their propagation to decision making in order to guide system level design decisions. With the help of the proposed methodology, a multitude of failure scenarios can be quickly analyzed to determine the effects of decisions on overall system risk. Using this decision-making approach, design teams can systematically explore risks and vulnerabilities during early, functional stage of system development prior to the selection of specific components. Application of the presented method to a reservoir system design demonstrates these capabilities.

scholarly journals Global Methodology for Electrical Utilities Maintenance Assessment Based on Risk-Informed Decision Making

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (16) ◽  
pp. 9091
Author(s):  
Mohamed Gaha ◽  
Bilal Chabane ◽  
Dragan Komljenovic ◽  
Alain Côté ◽  
Claude Hébert ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
Asset Management ◽  
Electrical Power ◽  
Informed Decision ◽  
Informed Decision Making ◽  
Power Utility ◽  
Important Indicator ◽  
Power Utilities ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Electrical Utilities

Modern electrical power utilities must deal with the replacement of large portions of their assets as they reach the end of their useful life. Their assets may also become obsolete due to technological changes or due to reaching their capacity limits. Major upgrades are also often necessary due to the need to grow capacity or because of the transition to more efficient and carbon-free power alternatives. Consequently, electrical power utilities are exposed to significant risks and uncertainties that have mostly external origins. In this context, an effective framework should be developed and implemented to maximize value from assets, ensure sustainable operations and deliver adequate customer service. Recent developments show that combining the concepts of asset management and resilience offers strong potential for such a framework—not only for electrical utilities, but for industry, too. Given that the quality and continuity of service are critical factors, the concept of Value of Lost Load (VoLL) is an important indicator for assessing the value of undelivered electrical energy due to planned or unplanned outages. This paper presents a novel approach for integrating the power grid reliability simulator into a holistic framework for asset management and electrical power utility resilience. The proposed approach provides a sound foundation for Risk-Informed Decision Making in asset management. Among other things, it considers asset performance as well as the impact of both current grid topology and customer profiles on grid reliability and VoLL. A case study on a major North American electrical power utility demonstrates the applicability of the proposed methodology in assessing maintenance strategy.

Incorporating Health-Related Criteria for Project Scoring in Massachusetts

2021 ◽  
pp. 036119812110570
Author(s):  
Aikaterini Deliali ◽  
Sarah Esenther ◽  
Christine Frisard ◽  
Michael Bolduc ◽  
Derek Krevat ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Decision Making ◽  
Air Quality ◽  
Evidence Base ◽  
Active Transportation ◽  
Department Of Transportation ◽  
Transportation Projects ◽  
Health Related ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Highway Project

Transportation projects can affect health through multiple pathways—for example, by degrading air quality or encouraging active transportation. There is a need to incorporate health considerations in transportation decision-making to achieve health-related community goals. This paper presents highway project scoring criteria that allow for capturing the impact of transportation projects on health. These scoring criteria are organized into five groups—air quality, accessibility, equity, physical activity, and safety—to capture the multiple pathways that transportation interacts with health. The focus of this study was on updating the Massachusetts Department of Transportation Highway Division project scoresheet to incorporate health-related criteria. Evidence base, standards, and data needs based on which each criterion is assessed, as well as limitations, are summarized for each of the proposed criteria. The paper concludes with a discussion on the outcomes of the proposed changes as well as the transferability potential of the proposed criteria.

The Application of Risk-Informed Decision-Making Approach in Optimization of Allowed Outage Time for Safety System in Nuclear Power Plant

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Licun Wu ◽  
Chao Ma ◽  
Wei Deng
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
High Pressure ◽  
Power Plant ◽  
Nuclear Power Plant ◽  
Nuclear Power ◽  
Safety System ◽  
Informed Decision ◽  
Informed Decision Making ◽  
Deterministic Analysis ◽  
The Impact

To facilitate online maintenance for High Pressure Safety Injection (HPSI) system in nuclear power plant, the optimization measure for Allowed Outage Time (AOT) is proposed in this paper, and risk-Informed decision-making approach is used to demonstrate its feasibility. According to the analysis results, the extension of AOT meets the requirements of relative guides and deterministic analysis, and the impact on risk of plant is acceptable. Based on the extension of AOT, it is feasible to carry out online maintenance for safety system and corresponding support systems, which can effectively reduce workload during shutdown.

Analysis of PSA Conservative Assumptions’ Impact on Risk Profile for Armenian NPP Unit 2

2008 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shahen Poghosyan ◽  
Armen Amirjanyan ◽  
Surik Bznuni
Keyword(s):  
Risk Assessment ◽  
Decision Making ◽  
Risk Profile ◽  
Informed Decision ◽  
Informed Decision Making ◽  
Comparative Risk Assessment ◽  
Comparative Risk ◽  
Full Power ◽  
Power Operation ◽  
The Impact

PSA is a powerful tool for detailed risk assessment and risk-informed decision making. The main deliverables from PSA models is comparative risk assessment of different risk contributors including systems, components, IEs, etc. Risk-informed decision making process is based on obtained risk profile. In comparison with deterministic approach conservatism included in PSA models could lead to deformation of risk profile which will bring to inappropriate decision making based on PSA results. This paper presents analysis done for Armenian NPP PSA study in order to assess the impact of conservative assumptions on final risk profile coming from potential internal initiating events at full power operation.

Considerations for the Use of Probabilistic Assessments in Regulatory Decision Making Related to Pressure Boundary Component Aging

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Blair Carroll ◽  
John C. Jin
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
Boundary Component ◽  
Nuclear Power ◽  
Structural Integrity ◽  
Informed Decision ◽  
Informed Decision Making ◽  
Regulatory Decision ◽  
Plant Safety ◽  
Unintended Effect ◽  
The Impact

Within the current Canadian regulatory framework, the structural integrity of pressure boundary components with detected service-induced degradation must be demonstrated using deterministic evaluation techniques. However, Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission staff has recognized that the inherent conservatism in these deterministic assessment approaches may generate overly conservative conclusions when they are applied to assess the impact of postulated service-induced degradation to establish aging management requirements for nuclear power plant pressure boundary components. This may have the unintended effect of reducing the effectiveness of aging management programs by directing resources towards activities that will have minimal benefit on improving plant safety and could result in unnecessary dose to personnel. With this in mind, CNSC staff has accepted the limited use of probabilistic assessments prepared by licensees to support aging management activities for pressure boundary components. These probabilistic assessments form a part of risk-informed decision making strategies intended to reduce excess conservatism that could arise if decisions are based solely on the results of deterministic assessments. This paper provides an overview of CNSC staff’s experiences with the review and acceptance of licensee submissions incorporating probabilistic assessments of pressure boundary component aging for risk informed decision making.

scholarly journals Overcoming Barriers to Applying Systems Thinking Mental Models in Policy-Making Comment on "What Can Policy-Makers Get Out of Systems Thinking? Policy Partners’ Experiences of a Systems-Focused Research Collaboration in Preventive Health"

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sobia Khan
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
Mental Models ◽  
Systems Thinking ◽  
Mental Model ◽  
Policy Making ◽  
Research Collaboration ◽  
Preventive Health ◽  
Policy Makers ◽  
Solution Generation ◽  
Australian Researcher

Systems thinking provides the health system with important theories, models and approaches to understanding and assessing complexity. However, the utility and application of systems thinking for solution-generation and decision-making is uncertain at best, particularly amongst health policy-makers. This commentary aims to elaborate on key themes discussed by Haynes and colleagues in their study exploring policy-makers’ perceptions of an Australian researcher-policy-maker partnership focused on applications of systems thinking. Findings suggest that policy-makers perceive systems thinking as too theoretical and not actionable, and that the value of systems thinking can be gleaned from greater involvement of policy-makers in research (ie, through co-production). This commentary focuses on the idea that systems thinking is a mental model that, contrary to researchers’ beliefs, may be closely aligned with policy-makers’ existing worldviews, which can enhance adoption of this mental model. However, wider application of systems thinking beyond research requires addressing multiple barriers faced by policy-makers related to their capability, opportunity and motivation to action their systems thinking mental models. To make systems thinking applicable to the policy sphere, multiple approaches are required that focus on capacity building, and a shift in shared mental models (or the ideas and institutions that govern policy-making).

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