Revision as of 18:40, 15 February 2023

Abstract

Robust Decision Making (RDM) involves a set of ideas, methods, and tools that employ computation to facilitate better decision-making when dealing with situations of significant uncertainty. It integrates decision analysis, Assumption-Based Planning, scenarios, and Exploratory Modeling to simulate multiple possible outcomes in the future, with the aim of identifying policy-relevant scenarios and robust adaptive strategies. These RDM analytic tools are frequently embedded in a decision support process referred to as "deliberation with analysis," which fosters learning and agreement among stakeholders ^[1]. This article provides a comprehensive review of the current state of the art in RDM in project management, including the key principles and practices of RDM, such as the importance of data gathering and analysis, considering different options, and involving stakeholders. Furthermore, this article examines the benefits, challenges, and limitations of RDM in project management and provides insights into future directions for research in this area. Its aim is to provide project managers with a deeper understanding of the principles and practices of RDM, along with insights on and example of how to correctly implement RDM in project management, and to inform future research in this area. Ultimately, this article aims to contribute to the development of more effective and efficient approaches to project management and decision making by promoting the use of RDM in project management.

Big Idea: Robust Decision Making under uncertainty

Brief history

Robust Decision Making (RDM) emerged in the 1950s and 1960s, when the RAND Corporation developed it to evaluate the effectiveness of nuclear weapon systems ^{[2] [3]}. The approach was designed to address uncertainty and ambiguity inherent in strategic planning, and it evolved to include simulation techniques, sensitivity analysis, and real options analysis. In the 1990s and 2000s, as the complexity and uncertainty of projects increased, RDM gained wider acceptance in project management and was applied to fields such as infrastructure, software development, and environmental management. Today, RDM is an established approach in project management, recognized for its ability to help project managers make well-informed and confident decisions, anticipate and manage uncertainty, and continuously adapt and monitor. RDM has also been applied in various contexts beyond project management, such as climate change policy and disaster risk reduction. ^{[4] [5] [6] [7]}.

Literature review and state of the art

According to Donald Rumsfeld there are different types of knowledge: known knowns, known unknowns, and unknown unknowns. Known knowns refer to things that we know for sure. Known unknowns refer to things that we know we do not know. However, the most difficult category is the unknown unknowns, which refers to things that we do not know we do not know ^{[8] [9]}. Knight further elaborates and proposes a distinction between risk and uncertainty. The first indicates situations in which the unknown can be measured (through probabilities) and, therefore, controlled. The latter indicates situations in which the unknown can't be quantified and can't, therefore, be measured ^[10]. Based on Knight distinction, different authors have used this term throughout the years to distinguish between decision making under risk and decision making under uncertainty. Academics differentiated the various levels of uncertainty in decision-making, ranging from complete certainty to total ignorance ^{[11] [12] [3]}. These levels are categorized based on the knowledge assumed about various aspects of a problem, including the future state of the world, the model of the relevant system, the outcomes from the system, and the weights that the various stakeholders will put on the outcomes. The four intermediate levels of uncertainty are defined as Level 1, where historical data can be used as predictors of the future ^[13]; Level 2, where probability and statistics can be used to solve problems; Level 3, where plausible future worlds are specified through scenario analysis; and Level 4, where we only know that we do not know due to unpredictable, surprising events or a lack of knowledge or data ^{[14] [15]}.

Key principles and practices of RDM

Application

Benefits & Limitations

Further research

References

1. ↑ Vincent A. W. J. Marchau, Warren E. Walker, Pieter J. T. M. Bloemen, Steven W. Popper (2019). Decision Making under Deep Uncertainty. From Theory to Practice
2. ↑ https://www.rand.org/pardee/methods-and-tools/robust-decision-making.html
3. ↑ ^{3.0 3.1} Lempert, R., J. (2019). Robust Decision Making (RDM), in Decision Making Under Deep Uncertainty — 2019, pp. 23-51
4. ↑ Lempert, R. J., & Collins, M. T. (2007). Managing the risk of uncertain threshold responses: Comparison of robust, optimum, and precautionary approaches. Risk Analysis, 27(4), 1009-1026.
5. ↑ Ramanathan, R., & Ganesh, L. S. (1994). Group preference aggregation methods employed in AHP: An evaluation and an intrinsic process for deriving members’ weightages. European Journal of Operational Research, 79(2), 249-265.
6. ↑ Whang, J., & Han, S. (2009). Optimal R&D investment strategies under uncertainty for the development of new technologies. Journal of Business Research, 62(4), 441-447.
7. ↑ Xu, Q., Zhang, L., & Zhang, X. (2013). The application of robust decision-making in the emergency evacuation of large-scale events. Safety Science, 57, 141-146.
8. ↑ Donald Rumsfeld, Department of Defense News Briefing, February 12, 2002.
9. ↑ "The Johari Window", http://wiki.doing-projects.org/index.php/The_Johari_Window, 27 February 2021
10. ↑ Knight, F. H. (1921). Risk, uncertainty and profit. New York: Houghton Mifflin Company (repub- lished in 2006 by Dover Publications, Inc., Mineola, N.Y.).
11. ↑ Courtney, H. (2001). 20/20 foresight: Crafting strategy in an uncertain world. Boston: Harvard Business School Press.
12. ↑ Walker, W. E., Harremoës, P., Rotmans, J., van der Sluijs, J. P., van Asselt, M. B. A., Janssen, P., et al. (2003). Defining uncertainty: A conceptual basis for uncertainty management in model- based decision support. Integrated Assessment, 4(1), 5–17.
13. ↑ Hillier, F. S., & Lieberman, G. J. (2001). Introduction to operations research (7th ed.). New York: McGraw Hill.
14. ↑ Taleb, N. N. (2007). The black swan: The impact of the highly improbable. New York: Random House.
15. ↑ Schwartz, P. (1996). The art of the long view: Paths to strategic insight for yourself and your company. New York: Currency Doubleday.