Advanced Structured Decision Making Practicum

Target Audience:

Active practitioners of structured decision making who have experience facilitating and analyzing decisions.

Summary and Objectives:

This course builds on the fundamental principles taught in Introduction to Structured Decision Making (ALC3171) and Adaptive Management: Structured Decision Making for Recurrent Decisions (ALC3176) and explores more advanced topics in decision analysis. The course is designed to provide intensive hands-on practice of advanced techniques. The course content changes annually, so practitioners of structured decision making can take this course repeatedly for professional development. This course is participant-centered; participants will be expected to undertake some advanced preparation and to engage actively in the exercises that form the bulk of the class. The principal instructors are scientists from the U.S. Geological Survey and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service with extensive expertise in decision analysis.

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

• Perform hands-on exercises to practice emerging state-of-the-art techniques.
• Formally share their experiences in delivering structured decision making.
• Provide ideas on improving the effectiveness of their work.
• Advance their skills for practicing structured decision making in conservation management decisions.

Special Requirements:

At minimum, participants should have taken Introduction to Structured Decision Making (ALC3171) or its equivalent and have participated with some leadership role in a structured decision making workshop (ALC3159 or its equivalent). Experience in other advanced courses, like Adaptive Management: Structured Decision Making for Recurrent Decisions (ALC3176), is also recommended.

Competency Addressed: 

Decision Making - Intermediate, Decision Support - Intermediate, Strategic Thinking - Intermediate, Decisiveness - Intermediate