Decision Analysis: Elicitation and Facilitation

Target Audience:

Decision analysts who want to improve their skills in facilitating group decision making processes and expert elicitation.

Summary and Objectives:

This course is designed for structured decision-making practitioners who want to develop their skills as decision analysts, particularly in the facilitation of the decision-making process and elicitation techniques. It builds on the fundamental principles taught in Introduction to Structured Decision Making (ALC3171) and focuses on facilitating the "PrOAC" steps of the PrOACT process. Course content includes eliciting problem framing and objectives; eliciting measurable attributes, alternatives, and subjective preferences; eliciting expert judgments; and decision process design and facilitation challenges. Sections on eliciting expert judgments include the setup and preparation phases, elicitation phase, methods and techniques of elicitation, and data analysis and documentation phases. The course is primarily experiential, mixing hands-on exercises with short lectures and group discussions.

Upon completion of this course, participants will be able to:

• Successfully set up and design a decision analysis process.
• Effectively facilitate decision-makers and small groups using the "PrOAC" steps of the PrOACT process: problem framing, objectives, alternatives, and consequences.
• Elicit personal values or preferences.
• Conduct value scoring for consequences.
• Elicit expert judgments.
• Process and use expert judgments in structured decision-making.
• Recognize some typical challenges with facilitation and group dynamics and when help is needed.
• Work toward competency as an independent decision analyst.

Prerequisites:

Completion of An Overview of Structured Decision Making (ALC3183) or Introduction to Structured Decision Making (ALC3171) is required prior to enrollment.

Special Requirements:

Background readings will be required in preparation for the course.

Competency Addressed:

Decision Making - Intermediate, Decision Support - Intermediate, Strategic Thinking - Intermediate, Stakeholder Management - Basic, Creativity and Innovation - Basic