Multi-criteria decision aids for sustainable water management

This article evaluates three multi-criteria decision aid (MCDA)methods—Regime, Novel Approach to Imprecise Assessment and Decision Environments (Naiade) and Strategic Advisor (Strad)—from a process facilitation perspective. This research shows that Strad has many advantages over the other tools regarding knowledge management, pluralism, functionality, transparency and participation. Concluding recommendations are as follows. (1) Agree explicit aims with stakeholder participation and if the aims change during the process, this is to be communicated. (2) Match methodology with the aims of the process since it is not always necessary to base the ranking on complex mathematical calculations. (3) Participatory processes should be conducted with care as they are resource consuming. Select cases thoughtfully and design them with a reflective attitude. The systematic structure of going through one criterion at a time is perceived as more important than software aggregation of multiple criteria at the end. It was further concluded that MCDAs have to be transparent and software must be flexible with an understandable user interface.