The contribution of problem structuring methods to managing sustainable development

A group of analytical decision support methodologies and tools, largely known as problem structuring methods, have gained increased popularity in helping diverse groups of stakeholders to explore complex problematic situations. These participatory modelling approaches have been very successful in dealing with a wide range of problems within organisations and societies, even though their application in sustainable development seems to be less extensive. This paper carries out a review of practical applications of problem structuring methods to sustainability problems that have been published in the main operational research journals over the last twenty years. The findings suggest that there is evidence of the use of problem structuring methods in managing sustainable development, which typically involves a multi-methodological approach and the mix of methods and tools. The findings also confirm the main strengths of this form of participatory modelling, which make problem structuring methods very suitable for the handling of sustainability challenges.