Title: Developing a participative multi criteria decision making technique: a case study

Authors: Robert Bray

Addresses: Burnside, Ardenfield, Ardentinny PA23 8TU, Scotland, UK

Abstract: Multi criteria decision making (MCDM) has become widely used to facilitate decision making. This study reports on the development and evaluation of a participative MCDM method, 'simple multi attribute rating technique for enhanced stakeholder take-up' (SMARTEST), designed for high levels of stakeholder involvement through an iterative process. In a case study of recovery from acidifying pollution of a river in Scotland, six options were evaluated against 12 criteria. Stakeholders participated fully in seven of the ten stages of the process and partially engaged in two others. The use of SMARTEST was effective in helping stakeholders gain insights into the decision making process of themselves and each other.

Keywords: multicriteria decision making; participative MCDM; decision support systems; DSS; stakeholder involvement; SMARTEST; case study; stakeholders; water pollution; Scotland.

DOI: 10.1504/IJMDM.2015.067381

International Journal of Management and Decision Making, 2015 Vol.14 No.1, pp.66 - 80

Received: 12 Aug 2014
Accepted: 18 Oct 2014
Published online: 07 Feb 2015 *

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