Involving Users in the Development of Decision-Analytic Aids: The Principal Factor in Successful Implementation

Decision-analytic techniques and aids have been used successfully in a wide range of settings to help decision makers sytematically evaluate alternative means of resolving a problem. On the basis of this success. it is anticipated that organizations will increasingly desire decision-analytic aids with stand-alone capabilities for routine use without outside consultation. The paper's thesis is that decision-analytic aids will seldom achieve stand-alone capabilities unless eventual users are involved throughout the development process. User involvement develops the understanding and commitment necessary for implementing a different decision-making approach and tailors aid characteristics to the users' needs within their organizational context. Although the need for user involvement appears obvious, it has often been neglected in the development of analytical decision aids, with the result being unsuccessful implementation.