An automated facilitator for use in structuring a group decision process using end user collaboration units through which corresponding stories are entered and feedback is provided, the facilitator including at least one database which stores models for problem solving; and at least one automated facilitation server which receives information on a problem to be resolved, receives the stories from the collaboration end units relating to the problem to form a story matrix, translates the story matrix into an influence diagram and/or decision tree displayed on the end user collaboration units using the stored models, provides alerts of divergences to be resolved by the end user collaboration units to resolve the problem according to the stored models, updates the displayed influence diagrams and decision trees according to feedback received from the user collaboration units due to the alert using the stored models, and provides a best solution based upon the updates which indicates a sensitivity of the solution to changes in parameters of the story matrix.