Policy Implications. How to Support Decision-Makers in Setting and Solving Complex Problems

Stakeholders participation in the field of the public decision stimulates learning processes able to generate common knowledge based on shared information. In fact, by including different stakeholders in the decision process different knowledge domains can be integrated. To facilitate this processes, Decision Support Systems (DSSs) have been framed to support stakeholders in decision making for specific purposes. The contribution aims at reflecting on stakeholder participation and to propose a possible participatory process in the context of the location of healthcare facilities based on the methodological framework developed by Simon extended to the scale of Arnstein. Connections of the study within the line of research concerning the “Policy Analytics” perspective are proposed highlighting the importance of the combination of data-driven with value-driven approaches. Moreover, this conclusive chapter will synthetize main achievement and findings of the book.