EURO 2024 Copenhagen
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1421. Structuring decision problems and generating alternatives: report of a workshop

Invited abstract in session MB-13: OR Innovations in Policy Making - A, stream Soft OR and Problem Structuring Methods.

Monday, 10:30-12:00
Room: 15 (building: 116)

Authors (first author is the speaker)

1. Irene Pluchinotta
The Bartlett, University College London
2. Ke (Koko) Zhou
The Bartlett Faculty, University College London
3. Marta Bottero
Department of Urban and Regional Studies and Planning, Politecnico di Torino
4. Alberto Colorni
Department of Industrial Design, delle Arti e della Comunicazione, Politecnico di Milano
5. Chiara D'Alpaos
Department of Civil Environmental and Architectural Engineering, University of Padova
6. Alessandra Oppio
Department of Architecture and Urban Studies, Politecnico of Milano
7. Alexis Tsoukias
CNRS - LAMSADE

Abstract

Problem structuring and alternatives generation are important and highly interconnected stages of decision-making and decision-aiding processes. An ill-formed problem formulation or a limited set of alternatives have a significant impact on the quality of the final decision. This is emphasised when complex multi-actor decisions or policy making need to be supported. Problem structuring methods are largely recognized for their valuable contribution to decision-and policy-making processes; on the other side, the alternatives generation phase is often overlooked in research and practice, leading to unsatisfying decisions. Yet, alternatives are generated before being analysed, explicitly or implicitly, formally or informally.

Within this context, this talk presents the lessons learnt from a collaborative activity carried out with international Operational Research (OR) experts involved in an experimental workshop. The focus of this activity was the problem formulation and alternatives generation phases occurring between a client and six analysts using different OR methods. The objectives of the experimental workshop were to observe and discuss how different approaches deal with structuring decision problems and generating alternatives, and to share experience on procedures which might be transferable. In doing so, the talk catalyses

Keywords

Status: accepted

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