Decision Making / 5 / 5.1 / 5.1.4

5.1.4 Application Of Methodology

The methodology might follow this sequence, noting factors that militate against effective decision making identified earlier:

• Define the problem space and potential solution space, taking into account the domains of action of relevant managers and stakeholders.
• Identify individual concepts, which operate within the problem space and within the minds of stakeholders.
• Classify each of the causal, connotative, and conflict relationships.
• Map the causality using appropriate tools and level of aggregation.
• Depict causal relationships and structures through a series of conceptual models.
• Verify, progressively develop, and validate models. As far as possible, involve stakeholders and decision makers closest to, or who have greatest stake in the problem at hand.
• Use models as test-beds for building, understanding, and simulating strategies. Step through the models qualitatively simulating changes that could occur³.