Six Steps Towards High Quality Decisions – Using the Example of Developing a Low Carbon Project
Friday 9 June 2023 | Room Stolz 2
Convenors
- Jost Püttmann (SDP Vienna Chapter; OMV)
- Heinz Nusser (Decision Advisory Group)
Description
Working along the six elements of decision quality, the participants of this workshop learn how to make a high-quality investment decision about a low carbon project.
Typical project topics can range from geothermal projects, underground thermal energy storages, carbon capture and storage (CCU/CCS) and similar. Bring your own project, or work along a real case study!
All sessions of the day – the underlying principle of Decision Quality (DQ), as well as each step of the project development process – will be introduced by a short presentation.
The topics of the workshop will be:
- Defining the solution space and connect to corporate strategy
- How to be clear about your values and tradeoffs
- Dealing with uncertainties and set up scenarios
- Define, evaluate, and select options
Besides the two convenors, also Reidar B. Bratvold, Professor of Investment and Decision Analysis at University of Stavanger, and Daniel Dantine, Partner at Decision Advisory Group holder of the certificate in Strategic Decision and Risk Management from the McCombs School of Business in Austin, Texas, will give input and co-host sessions.
Participants will be invited to gather in groups and elaborate each step along either a practical challenge / opportunity from their own business context or a case study that we will contribute. This teamwork will be supported and coached by the two conveners and the expert of the according session.
After each teamwork session a discussion will highlight experiences from the groups, answer open questions and give insights in best-practice solutions from various industries.
Objectives
After the workshop participants know how to
- differentiate between a good decision and a good outcome,
- achieve high quality decisions, following a structured process,
- apply this process to develop a low carbon project.
Participant Profile
Everyone who is interested in a structured approach on how to develop a project and the underlying business case in the field of decarbonization, energy transition or low carbon.
From our experience typical roles concerned are:
– Project Owners
– Project Managers
– Sustainability Managers
– Managers in the field of Low Carbon
– Business Developers
– Project Developers
– Investment Controllers
Workshop Elements
The workshop will be composed of three elements:
1. Input:
All sessions of the day – the underlying principle of Decision Quality (DQ), as well as each step of the project development process – will be introduced by a short presentation. The presentations will be held by experts with outstanding experience in the relevant field. These experts will also accompany the subsequent practical application session and the following discussion.
The two conveners, Jost Püttmann and Heinz Nusser, will lead through the whole day and secure coherence.
2. Practical Application:
Participants will be invited to gather in groups of max four people and elaborate each step along either a practical challenge / opportunity from their own business context or a case study that we will contribute.
This teamwork will be supported and coached by the two conveners and the expert of the according session.
3. Discussion:
After each teamwork session a discussion will highlight experiences from the groups, answer open questions and give insights in best-practice solutions from various industries.
Underlying Approach
The illustration gives a first insight in the working process that builds the basic pathway the workshop will follow.
The workshop sessions will not strictly follow the steps, but always will refer to the overall process, to allow participants to easily navigate and orientate themselves.

Workshop Programme
Time | Activity |
---|---|
09:30 | Welcome & introduction to the workshop Working Style: Presentation – Quiz |
09:50 | Define the solution space and connect to corporate strategy – H. Nusser (Decision Advisory Group) Working Style: Input – Forming of groups – Selection of projects – Work in groups |
11:10 | Coffee Break |
11:30 | Define the solution space and connect to corporate strategy – H. Nusser (Decision Advisory Group) Working Style: Reflection in plenum |
11:50 | Be clear about your values and tradeoffs – R. Bratvold (University of Stavanger) Working Style: Input – Work in groups – Reflection in plenum |
13:20 | Lunch |
14:10 | Deal with uncertainties and set up scenarios – D. Dantine (Decision Advisory Group) Working Style: Input – Work in groups – Reflection in plenum |
15:20 | Coffee Break |
15:40 | Define, evaluate, and select options – D. Dantine (Decision Advisory Group) Working Style: Input – Work in groups – Reflection in plenum |
16:50 | Closeout – J. Püttmann (Society of Decision Professionals – Vienna Chapter President), H. Nusser (Decision Advisory Group) Working Style: Reflection in plenum |
17:00 | End of the Workshop |