Effective preservation decision strategies

Abstract

Decisions about preservation issues are made both deliberatively and unconsciously. Heuristics operate as intuitive processes which are rapid and can be reliable and effective. Deliberative decisions require time to complete and can be described by an analytic-deliberative model. The characteristics of these two processes and their relevance to preventive conservation decision-making are discussed. Each of these two processes has its strengths and weaknesses. People naturally make decisions and utilise a range of strategies without necessarily having insights into the process. This paper provides a frame to help examine, describe, and reflect upon our own and others’ decision-making in order to improve both processes and outcomes.

Keywords:

• Heuristic
• Analytic-deliberative
• Risk analysis
• Preventive conservation
• Preservation
• CPRAM

Acknowledgements

Thanks are due to Nicola Emmerson and Fiona Graham for their comments on an early draft of this paper. The authors are grateful to the anonymous peer reviewers of this work for their thoughtful and detailed comments.

ORCID

Jane Henderson http://orcid.org/0000-0003-3027-8452

Robert Waller http://orcid.org/0000-0002-9500-4113