Problem structuring in interactive decision-making processes: How interaction, problem perceptions and knowledge contribute to a joint formulation of a problem and solutions

Water management issues are often complex, unstructured problems. They are complex, because they are part of a natural and human system wich consists of many diverse, interdependent elements, e.g. upstream events influence the water system downstream, different interdependent goverment layers, manage the water system, and multiple stakeholders use the water system. Complexity often results in unstructured problems. Problems are unstructured if their knowledge base is uncertain ore disagreed upon and/ore actors disagree about the normative standarts (values, norms and objective). The notation that problems may be unstructured is based on the social-constructive view that problems are not objective givens, but social constructs. This implies that stakeholders may have divergent perceptions about the same problem. This divergence of perception is related th their divergent interest and perception of reality