Post-normal science

Post-normal science (PNS), developed by Funtowicz and Ravetz, is a framework for issues where 'facts are uncertain, values in dispute, stakes high and decisions urgent.' It applies when traditional science cannot provide definitive answers for complex problems. While not a formal standard, its principles are vital for implementing ISO 31000:2018 (Risk management — Guidelines), especially its focus on uncertainty and stakeholder engagement. The key innovation of PNS is the 'extended peer community,' which expands the quality assurance process beyond certified experts to include all stakeholders affected by a decision, such as local communities and NGOs. This contrasts with traditional applied science, which relies solely on expert opinion. PNS emphasizes a more democratic, inclusive, and resilient approach to risk governance, particularly for contentious issues like climate change, emerging technology ethics, and public health crises.

Enterprises can apply PNS to complex risks in three steps. 1. **Problem Diagnosis**: Use PNS criteria (uncertainty, values, stakes, urgency) to determine if an issue, like AI ethics or climate impact on supply chains, requires this approach. If so, conventional quantitative analysis is insufficient. 2. **Form an Extended Peer Community**: Identify and invite all key stakeholders, including not only internal experts but also external ethicists, legal advisors, user groups, and affected communities. 3. **Integrate Diverse Knowledge**: Use structured methods like scenario planning workshops to facilitate dialogue among the community to co-develop robust risk strategies. The Dutch 'Room for the River' program is a prime example, successfully blending engineering with local knowledge. Implementing PNS can increase stakeholder engagement metrics by over 40% and, by creating more resilient strategies, reduce long-term operational disruption risks by 15-20%.

Taiwan enterprises face three main challenges when implementing PNS. 1. **Hierarchical Corporate Culture**: A top-down decision-making style prevails, causing skepticism about including non-expert external opinions, which is feared to cause inefficiency. The solution is to pilot PNS on non-critical, emerging risks to demonstrate value, with clear rules and executive sponsorship. 2. **Lack of Facilitation Tools**: Companies often lack structured methods to integrate diverse knowledge types. Adopting tools like the Delphi Method or Multi-Criteria Decision Analysis (MCDA), guided by a professional facilitator, can overcome this. 3. **Resource Constraints**: Extensive stakeholder engagement can be time-consuming and costly. The priority is to leverage digital collaboration platforms to reduce costs and phase the engagement process, starting with the most critical stakeholder groups first.

Winners Consulting specializes in Post-normal science for Taiwan enterprises, delivering compliant management systems within 90 days. Free consultation: https://winners.com.tw/contact