Comparing mental models of prospective users of the sustainable nanotechnology decision support system

Abstract

Mental modelling analysis can be a valuable tool in understanding and bridging cognitive values in multi-stakeholders' communities. It is especially true in situation of emerging risks where significant uncertainty and competing objectives could result in significant difference in stakeholder perspective on the use of new materials and technologies. This paper presents a mental modelling study performed among prospective users of an innovative decision support system for safe and sustainable development of nano-enabled products. These users included representatives of industry and regulators, as well as several insurance specialists and researchers. We present methodology and tools for comparing stakeholder views and objectives in the context of developing a decision support system

Decision Support for International Agreements Regulating Nanomaterials

“…This paper analyses suggestions made at a workshop in Edinburgh on 6 October 2016, which have not been discussed in earlier publications. There are similarities with a series of three papers analysing results of surveys, interviews and another user workshop from a mental modelling perspective [15][16][17]. The focus of those papers was on industrial and regulatory user contexts of the SUNDS tool while this was still in development.…”

“…The other entry point should be for stakeholders including industry, civil society, regulators and others inserting their personal weights for each of the criteria addressed by the MCDA performed by the system. 15 A study comparing mental models of potential regulatory, industrial and insurance sector users of the SUNDS DSS, resulted in some evidence that different stakeholder groups assign different weights to risk assessment, life cycle assessment, economic assessment and social impact assessment tools [17].…”

“…The downsides are that not all countries where nanomaterials are manufactured or used are OECD members or observers, and that in practice, stakeholder engagement remains mainly limited to industry (represented by BIAC) 16 and (in the case of nanomaterials to a lesser extent) trade unions (represented by TUAC). 17 The impact of binding OECD Council Decisions would be easier to assess as part of an SIA, while less countries would be affected than by SAICM recommendations. Fig.…”

Evaluating environmental risk assessment models for nanomaterials according to requirements along the product innovation Stage-Gate process

“…2017 25 presented a mental modelling methodology for comparing stakeholder views and objectives in the context of developing a decision support system. A case study was conducted among prospective users of the SUNDS decision support tool, mainly from industry and regulators, which showed a greater interest in risk assessment decision support than in sustainability assessment.…”

Global perspectives and case studies of environmental management and policy

“…Azmi and Tokai (2017) implement a systems dynamics modeling approach to study the effects of government policy alternatives and changing populations in Malaysia on the national ownership of electric vehicles. Malsch et al (2017) describe how user perspectives and mental models can inform the development of decision support systems. The authors describe how multiple industry, regulatory, and other user perspectives are assessed and integrated into a decision support system for nanotechnology-enabled products.…”