Perceived effectiveness of environmental decision support systems in participatory planning: Evidence from small groups of end-users

Inman, D; Blind, M; Ribarova, I; Krause, A; Roosenschoon, O; Kassahun, A; Scholten, H; Arampatzis, G; Abrami, G; McIntosh, B; Jeffrey, P

dc.contributor.author	Inman, D	en
dc.contributor.author	Blind, M	en
dc.contributor.author	Ribarova, I	en
dc.contributor.author	Krause, A	en
dc.contributor.author	Roosenschoon, O	en
dc.contributor.author	Kassahun, A	en
dc.contributor.author	Scholten, H	en
dc.contributor.author	Arampatzis, G	en
dc.contributor.author	Abrami, G	en
dc.contributor.author	McIntosh, B	en
dc.contributor.author	Jeffrey, P	en
dc.date.accessioned	2014-03-01T01:36:37Z
dc.date.available	2014-03-01T01:36:37Z
dc.date.issued	2011	en
dc.identifier.issn	1364-8152	en
dc.identifier.uri	https://dspace.lib.ntua.gr/xmlui/handle/123456789/21360
dc.subject	Decision support	en
dc.subject	DST evaluation	en
dc.subject	Participatory planning	en
dc.subject.classification	Computer Science, Interdisciplinary Applications	en
dc.subject.classification	Engineering, Environmental	en
dc.subject.classification	Environmental Sciences	en
dc.subject.other	Bulgaria	en
dc.subject.other	Decision making process	en
dc.subject.other	Decision supports	en
dc.subject.other	DST evaluation	en
dc.subject.other	End-users	en
dc.subject.other	Environmental decision support systems	en
dc.subject.other	European context	en
dc.subject.other	Evaluation Method	en
dc.subject.other	Evaluation research	en
dc.subject.other	Integrated solutions	en
dc.subject.other	Integrated tools	en
dc.subject.other	Integrated water resources management	en
dc.subject.other	Multi Criteria Analysis	en
dc.subject.other	Participatory planning	en
dc.subject.other	Participatory process	en
dc.subject.other	Quantitative approach	en
dc.subject.other	Quantitative assessments	en
dc.subject.other	Sample sizes	en
dc.subject.other	Small groups	en
dc.subject.other	Small samples	en
dc.subject.other	Statistical analysis	en
dc.subject.other	Support systems	en
dc.subject.other	Users perceptions	en
dc.subject.other	Water Demand Management	en
dc.subject.other	Water management projects	en
dc.subject.other	Water stress	en
dc.subject.other	Artificial intelligence	en
dc.subject.other	Bayesian networks	en
dc.subject.other	Decision support systems	en
dc.subject.other	Decision theory	en
dc.subject.other	Environmental management	en
dc.subject.other	Inference engines	en
dc.subject.other	Knowledge management	en
dc.subject.other	Research	en
dc.subject.other	Water conservation	en
dc.subject.other	Water management	en
dc.subject.other	Decision making	en
dc.subject.other	Bayesian analysis	en
dc.subject.other	decision making	en
dc.subject.other	employment	en
dc.subject.other	environmental protection	en
dc.subject.other	integrated approach	en
dc.subject.other	participatory approach	en
dc.subject.other	perception	en
dc.subject.other	quantitative analysis	en
dc.subject.other	research work	en
dc.subject.other	water demand	en
dc.subject.other	water management	en
dc.subject.other	water resource	en
dc.subject.other	Bulgaria	en
dc.subject.other	Sofia	en
dc.title	Perceived effectiveness of environmental decision support systems in participatory planning: Evidence from small groups of end-users	en
heal.type	journalArticle	en
heal.identifier.primary	10.1016/j.envsoft.2010.08.005	en
heal.identifier.secondary	http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.envsoft.2010.08.005	en
heal.language	English	en
heal.publicationDate	2011	en
heal.abstract	The challenges associated with evaluating the effectiveness of environmental decision support systems (EDSS) based on the perceptions of only a small sample of end-users are well understood. Although methods adopted from Management Information Systems (MISS) evaluation research have benefited from relatively large (100+) sample sizes, permitting the use of multi-criteria analysis of users perceptions, there are few examples of methods for quantifying effectiveness based on smaller groups of end-users. Use of environmental decision support systems in Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM) has become increasingly prevalent over the passed twenty years, where their potential for facilitating the participatory process has been recognised; however, few quantitative assessments have been reported. This paper reports the application of a quantitative approach to evaluating environmental decision support systems with small groups of end-users in two case studies where the objective was to facilitate the participatory decision-making process in water management projects. The first case study involved nine end-users applying and evaluating a Bayesian network-based tool to facilitate water demand management implementation in Sofia, the capital city of Bulgaria. The second involved eleven end-users applying and evaluating an integrated tool the Integrated Solution Support System (I3S) - during a water stress mitigation project in a European context. End-users' perceptions of effectiveness were elicited and compared using statistical analysis. The results of the two case studies suggest that end-user's employment influences their perceptions of EDSS effectiveness. We also show how the applied evaluation method is flexible enough to assess different EDSS types from a range of dimensions. (C) 2010 Published by Elsevier Ltd.	en
heal.publisher	ELSEVIER SCI LTD	en
heal.journalName	Environmental Modelling and Software	en
dc.identifier.doi	10.1016/j.envsoft.2010.08.005	en
dc.identifier.isi	ISI:000286284700007	en
dc.identifier.volume	26	en
dc.identifier.issue	3	en
dc.identifier.spage	302	en
dc.identifier.epage	309	en