The impact of ´messy´ data on group decision-making

The author presents results from research examining the impact of the integration of external data of varying degrees of messiness in conjunction with use of an established group decision-support system. Messiness in this sense refers to the degree that the data comes from a large number of fragmented sources of varying degrees of objectivity across a broad spectrum of formats and contexts in environments with difficult and complex data interrelations. External data of varying degrees of messiness were provided in conjunction with the group´s efforts to identify and assign priorities to key issues of a complex problem involving metropolitan land use and transportation planning. Research data were recorded on strategies of use and impact on decision-making as a function of external data messiness.<>