decisionmaterials

Decision materials refer to the set of artifacts and inputs assembled to support decision making in organizations and research. They include data and evidence, analytical models, documentation, criteria, scenarios, and decision-support tools that stakeholders use to understand options, assess outcomes, and justify choices.

Types of decision materials encompass several categories. Data and evidence consist of measurements, studies, records, and reports that inform inference. Models and analyses cover statistical models, simulations, forecasts, and multi-criteria decision analysis (MCDA) approaches. Documentation and records provide context, assumptions, methodologies, and audit trails. Criteria and preferences capture the decision criteria, weights, and stakeholder inputs used to evaluate options. Scenarios and options present what-if analyses and alternative courses of action. Tools such as dashboards, decision-support systems, and spreadsheets facilitate exploration and communication of results. Provenance and versioning help track the origin and evolution of materials.

Decision materials play roles across stages of decision processes. They support problem framing, evidence gathering, option generation, evaluation, selection, and accountability. They are used in business planning, policy making, healthcare, engineering, and research, with examples including business cases, risk assessments, policy briefs, and project proposals.

Quality and governance considerations focus on relevance, accuracy, completeness, timeliness, and traceability. Challenges include data quality gaps, bias, uncertainty, and stakeholder misalignment. Effective use relies on transparent methodologies, clear assumptions, peer review, and documentation standards. By organizing materials systematically, organizations improve reproducibility, justification, and learning from decisions.