Väräärtustele

Väräärtustele is a theoretical construct used to describe a systematic process for identifying, representing, and prioritizing values in decision-making. It treats values as actionable criteria that can be negotiated among stakeholders and translated into concrete requirements for policies, products, or actions.

The approach typically consists of three components: value nomination, which specifies the relevant values such as privacy, safety, fairness, and sustainability; value mapping, which creates a value map linking each value to indicators and probable consequences; and value prioritization, which involves assigning weights or ranks to reflect stakeholder importance and trade-offs.

Methodologically, väräärtustele proceeds through iterative stakeholder engagement, elicitation of preferences, construction of a value map, and scenario analysis to compare outcomes under different weightings. Methods from multi-criteria decision analysis and value-sensitive design are often used to support the process and its justification.

Applications of the concept appear in ethics assessments, public policy appraisal, technology and product design, corporate governance, and conflict resolution, where competing values must be balanced under conditions of uncertainty and complexity. The framework aims to improve transparency and legitimacy by making trade-offs explicit and methodically defensible.

Critics note that weighting values can be subjective and culturally biased, while proponents argue that formalizing value trade-offs helps illuminate assumptions and support more inclusive deliberation. See also: value theory, value-sensitive design, multi-criteria decision analysis, stakeholder analysis.