The human factors of project team decision-making for radioactive waste management

Multi-Criteria Decision Analysis (MCDA) is central to the ‘Best Practical Environmental Option’/Best Available Technology (BPEO/BAT) approach used to underpin UK radioactive waste management decisions and optimise remediation project portfolios. Internal and external stakeholder involvement is routine, and a consensus is necessary on many issues, including performance ratings and overall decision logic. This paper describes some of the human factors issues associated with the interactive processes typical of this type of application—particularly ‘scoring’ in workshop environments. The analysis draws on and integrates the author’s practical experience with work in three separate domains, namely: (1) decision analysis, (2) individual behavioural analysis, and (3) group processes. The conceptual framework presented addresses a number of important issues. These include the need for improved objectivity and quality of stakeholder and expert input to projects, improved management of prior assumptions and preconceptions, improved audit trails to the evidence base; a systematic approach to consensus building; and integration of MCDA into the wider project decision-making process. Insight presented by the case study will be applicable across a wide range of MCDA application.