Purpose: Outline the groups that should be engaged to provide their value weights.
Refer to: Tool 1b
Used in: Tool 5b
The process of value weighting with different partners or stakeholders involves assigning varying degrees of importance (weights) to their perspectives, interests, and contributions in a decision-making or project evaluation process. This approach recognizes that individual partners and stakeholders have diverse needs, expectations, and influences, and aims to reflect these variations when making decisions or evaluating the success of a project.
It is important to consider the complexity of stakeholder engagement. Treating partners or stakeholders differently can complicate the process, potentially leading to strategic behavior as participants may attempt to influence outcomes in their favour. Unfacilitated value weighting across a large number of participants can be treacherous waters, so think about who should be involved from the outset, ensuring that you involve a broad, representative sample. Then, identify an appropriate engagement tool to facilitate the process, and work to understand the values and weights of different individuals or groups. Each perspective will have a different ROI, and you can use iterative techniques (e.g., averaging, analyzing points of agreement or significant divergence, deliberating, revisiting, etc.) to arrive at clear and defensible weights.
Value weighting partners and stakeholders is a strategic approach to decision-making that balances competing interests and optimizes outcomes by giving due consideration to diverse perspectives. It promotes fairness, inclusivity, and accurately reflects the multifaceted nature of stakeholder and partner involvement.
Whose perspective do you want to include in the weighting exercise?
Table 11: Perspectives for value weight process
| Include? | Group | Comments / Names |
| Volunteers and Staff | ||
| Local Community Members | ||
| Local Environmental Groups | ||
| Water Quality Experts | ||
| Health Professionals | ||
| Economists/Social Scientists | ||
| Local Government Representatives | ||
| Cultural or Indigenous Leaders | ||
| Youth Representatives |