Municipalities and cities have access to an ever-increasing amount of data—ranging from demographic information and budgets to energy, transportation, and waste management. However, the mere availability of data is not enough to ensure high-quality decision-making. A new educational course at Tomáš Baťa University in Zlín therefore demonstrates how to integrate data and expert knowledge with local experience, the needs of residents, and the practical capabilities of public administration.
The course “Evidence-Based Decision-Making for Municipalities and Cities” was developed as part of the project “Behavioral Approaches to Evidence-Based Decision-Making in the Smart Cities Concept.” It was prepared by experts from the Institute of Regional Development, Public Administration, and Law at the Faculty of Management and Economics, Tomas Bata University in Zlín.
The course syllabus is available for download here.
Data as a Foundation, Not a Substitute for Decision-Making
Evidence-based decision-making does not mean that data automatically determines the one correct solution. High-quality decisions are made by combining the best available evidence with expert judgment, local experience, the values of relevant stakeholders, and the financial, human, and political resources of a specific municipality.
The main challenge, therefore, is often not obtaining the data, but correctly evaluating it and applying it to solve a specific problem. How can research findings, public databases, or a municipality’s own data be transformed into comprehensible information? How can one identify a high-quality source? How can one assess whether an implemented measure is actually working? And where can artificial intelligence help?
This course addresses precisely these questions through practical exercises, case studies, and work with real-world decision-making scenarios.
Six modules integrate data, evaluation, AI, and behavioral sciences
The total duration of the course is 24 hours. The course is divided into six sequential modules and a final block:
- fundamentals of evidence-based and evidence-informed decision-making;
- searching for and critically evaluating expert knowledge;
- data collection, evaluation, and interpretation;
- evaluation of public projects, policies, and services;
- responsible use of generative artificial intelligence;
- behavioral aspects of decision-making and the design of public interventions.
Participants will learn to recognize whether a particular decision is truly based on relevant evidence or primarily on intuition, habit, or social pressure. They will practice formulating analytical questions, searching for appropriate sources, working with both public and their own data, and preparing a simple evaluation plan.
Artificial Intelligence as a Tool with Clearly Defined Limits
A separate section of the course is devoted to the use of generative artificial intelligence in analytical work. AI can assist with summarizing documents, sorting information, conducting research, or preparing analytical materials. However, it cannot replace professional judgment or be considered an independent source of reliable knowledge.
Participants will therefore also learn about the risks of inaccurate outputs, bias, overreliance on automated recommendations, and the inappropriate handling of sensitive data. Through hands-on exercises, they will learn how to formulate precise and verifiable prompts and how to critically evaluate AI results.
Decision-making is also influenced by emotions and cognitive biases
Even high-quality data does not guarantee that it will be correctly interpreted and utilized. The decision-making of public administration officials, elected representatives, and citizens is influenced by experience, emotions, time pressure, the way information is presented, and cognitive biases.
The course therefore also incorporates behavioral approaches. Participants will conduct a behavioral audit of the decision-making process and learn to apply the COM-B and EAST frameworks when designing public services, policies, and communication strategies. Attention is also given to transparency, ethical boundaries, and the need to verify the actual impacts of proposed interventions.
Practical Skills Applicable in Everyday Work
The course is based on the principle of “learning by doing.” Each module therefore combines instruction with hands-on practice of a specific skill. Participants work with diagnostic cards, analytical questions, data plans, evaluation frameworks, and their own mini-projects based on publicly available data from a selected municipality or city.
The course is designed for elected officials and staff of municipalities and cities, but it can also be utilized by employees of regional offices, ministries, and other public administration institutions. Upon agreement, the content can be tailored to the needs of a specific organization, or only certain modules can be selected.
The course is taught by Filip Kučera, Lenka Smékalová, and Jan Štěbra, who have long been involved at FaME in innovations in public administration, the use of data and artificial intelligence, and the application of insights from behavioral sciences. Together, they are also the authors of the publication Behavioral Impulses for Better Cities and Regions.
Since 2021, Tomáš Baťa University in Zlín has been an educational institution accredited by the Ministry of the Interior under number AK/I-19/2021.
Are you interested in the course?
For more information about dates, enrollment options, and course customization, please contact:
Filip Kučera
Department of Regional Development, Public Administration, and Law
Faculty of Management and Economics, Tomas Bata University in Zlín
Email:
Phone: +420 603 979 205