| The purpose of this study is to determine the potential of using a heuristic computer-aided model building exercise to enhance understanding and facilitate communication between stakeholders involved in a water supply and sanitation planning process outside the United States. In the literature, diverse institutional issues are associated with water supply and sanitation planning, such as fragmented decision making, and insufficient access to water, funds, trained personnel, institutional capacity, and technical knowledge. This study responds to these shortcomings.;An embedded multiple case study strategy is used to complete cases in Mutare (Zimbabwe), Tartu (Estonia), and Stockholm (Sweden). A variety of data collection techniques--including secondary sources, interviews, focus groups, direct observation, participant observation, and model building exercises--are employed in each case study. The combination of the data collection techniques enhances the reliability of the study, while the multiple case studies strengthened the transferability of the study.;Although information from the case studies is consistent with the many diverse issues associated with water supply planning in the literature, the evidence from the cases does not support the idea that computer-aided group model building exercises facilitate water planning efforts in settings outside of the United States. By and large, it was found difficult to convene group model building exercises. Participants, however, were more receptive to taking part in individual model building exercises. In the individual exercises, most participants found that the tool did provide benefits to them--to enhance communication and/or one's understanding of the complexity of water supply and sanitation planning.;This study contributes to the current knowledge base because it (1) reiterates the multi-sectoral nature of water supply and sanitation planning, (2) provides new insights into the planning of water supply and sanitation systems in three cities, (3) introduces a new tool for water supply and sanitation planners outside of the United States to use, and (4) begins to evaluate the effectiveness of the said tool. |
