Decision Making under Uncertainty

This study explores decision making amongst ski area management. Inparticular it examined how managers are challenged by the risk anduncertainty as a result of weather and visitor activity patterns. Ski operationsin southern British Columbia were chosen for study because of theimportance of ski operations to the economy of this region as well as thechallenging and variable weather events they have recently experienced. Forexample this area hosts international and regional visitors as well as majorevents like the Vancouver 2010 Olympics and Paralympic Games events. As aresult there is considerable interest in creating ski conditions that are ofinternational calibre. The analysis should help to answer the questions: -What procedures are used to make decisions when weather-basedprobabilities and outcomes are uncertain? - What is the effect of climatevariability on ski area operation decision making? - What weather specific riskmanagement policies and procedures have been instituted to deal withuncertainty? - What is the adaptive capacity of ski areas regarding climatechange risk threats and opportunities? - How do trends within the evolvingski industry and ski market influence management decision making? Thisbook is addressed to professionals in the ski industry among other recreationfields. It is also directed towards researchers in the recreation leisure andtourism fields.