Who are those decision makers anyway?

Abstract:

Many science researchers want their work products to support meaningful practical efforts to improve the human condition. Yet decision support concepts, algorithms, and initial software implementations emerging from research endeavors have often been presented with only general references to decision makers, policy makers, practitioners or other broad categories of endusers. Based on a review of a selection of recent publications in agricultural decision support that involves modeling and intensive data usage, this paper offers a qualitative assessment of opportunities to enhance interest in applying new decision support tools by incorporating into the scope of research (1) evaluations of the particular needs of potential consumers of the information as they work in specified positions, (2) appraisals of the opportunity costs associated with bringing a new tool online for routine use and (3) a preliminary estimate of operational costs associated with sustaining proposed informational workflows. Potential incentives for coordinating “practitioner reviews” in addition to peer reviews are also discussed.