Fundamentals of Structured Decision Making

Target Audience:

Biologists and natural resource managers without background or experience in structured decision making who want to learn more.

Summary and Objectives:

Federal, State, Provincial, Tribal, and non-governmental organizations recognize that their management of natural resources, including wildlife and fish, is an exercise in decision making. As such, they require both a scientific understanding of how those resources respond to management actions and a sociological understanding of what society values. The field of decision analysis offers a vast set of tools for framing, structuring, solving, implementing, and revisiting decisions, as well as provides rich insights into how humans and institutions make decisions. This blended course is designed to introduce core concepts of Structured Decision Making (SDM) and will be organized around concise and focused presentations of key concepts, with opportunities for participatory discussion and hands-on exercises. The instructors will share insights from real-world application of these approaches in both terrestrial and aquatic settings.

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

• Describe the structure structure
  Something temporarily or permanently constructed, built, or placed; and constructed of natural or manufactured parts including, but not limited to, a building, shed, cabin, porch, bridge, walkway, stair steps, sign, landing, platform, dock, rack, fence, telecommunication device, antennae, fish cleaning table, satellite dish/mount, or well head.
  
  Learn more about structure of a decision.
• Identify an appropriate decision-making process.
• Explain each step of the decision-making process.
• Identify structured decision making practices that are feasible and beneficial to incorporate in their everyday work.

Competencies Addressed: 

Decision Making - Awareness, Decision Support - Awareness, Decisiveness - Awareness, Critical Thinking - Basic, Strategic Thinking - Basic