Using GeoChoicePerspectives in Collaborative Spatial Decision Making

Experimental findings demonstrated that groups used maps predominantly to visualise evaluation results and much less to structure/design the decision problem, which suggests that analytical decision aids aimed at conflict management are likely to help mitigate conflict.

Abstract

This paper evaluates the use of spatial group decision support software during collaborative decision making in small, inter-organisational groups. To study human-computer-human interaction, our experimental design used a conference room setting and 109 volunteers formed into 22 groups of 5 persons, each containing multiple (organisational) stakeholders. Digital maps were integrated with multiple criteria decision models to select habitat restoration sites in the Duwamish Waterway of Seattle, Washington. Experimental findings demonstrated that groups used maps predominantly to visualise evaluation results and much less to structure/design the decision problem. While the use of multiple criteria decision models by groups remained steady throughout different phases of the decision process, the use of maps was much lower during the initial (deliberative-structuring) phase, than during the later (analytical) phase. Group conflict was higher during the analytical phase and much lower during the deliberative-structuring phase. A higher level of conflict during the analytical phase suggests that analytical decision aids aimed at conflict management are likely to help mitigate conflict, often a necessary part of making progress in public decision problems.