Otsustage

Otsustage is a fictional decision-making framework designed to guide collective choices in organizations and public projects. It presents a structured process that combines explicit criteria, transparent documentation, and iterative review to improve accountability and outcomes.

The framework centers on a defined objective, a set of decision criteria, a catalog of options, and a decision log. Key roles include a facilitator who leads the process, a scribe who records inputs and results, and a decision sponsor who approves the final choice. The approach emphasizes participatory input, traceable reasoning, and clear escalation paths for unresolved issues.

The typical process follows stages: articulate goals; map stakeholders and constraints; generate and screen options; score options against criteria; simulate potential consequences; deliberate and decide; implement and re-evaluate. Scoring often uses a transparent rubric or weighted scoring to balance multiple objectives.

Origins and terminology: The term Otsustage is a coined name used in theoretical discussions of participatory decision making, drawing on concepts from multi-criteria evaluation and deliberative governance. It is presented as a conceptual tool rather than a standardized methodology.

Applications, advantages, and limitations: Otsustage is described for use in corporate governance, urban planning, and community programs to improve legitimacy and traceability of choices. Proponents cite clearer rationales and better stakeholder buy-in, while critics warn of potential complexity, longer timelines, and dependency on skilled facilitation to avoid decision fatigue or superficial consensus. See also: decision analysis, multi-criteria decision analysis, participatory planning.