Suchergebnisse

The business firm (BF) should be viewed as a pol'al system, thus clarifying both conventional econ theories of the BF & suggesting ways of dealing with classical problems in the theory of pol'al systems. The argument hinges upon: (i) a general statement of the theoretical problem involved in decision-models of complex systems, (ii) an evaluation of 2 major approaches to the problem [these are (a) the imputation of a superordinate goal re which conflict can be mediated - typical of theories of pol'al coalitions, & (b) the description of a process by which decisions are reached without explicit comparison of utilities -typical of theories of BF's] , & (iii) an examination of the results of recent attempts to develop a revised theory of the BF on the basis of a few key pol'al concepts. From this implications emerge for pol'al sci: (1) Recent experience indicates that the BF can be viewed as a pol'al conflict system, (2) successes with computer program models in the analysis of pol'al systems within BF support the view that computer programs provide a powerful language for treatment of pol'al conflict systems generally, (3) the apparent theoretical similarity between the pol'al coalition in business & the pol'al coalition in gov'al org suggests that the substantive features of recent behavioral models of the BF may be useful as a basis for comparable models of gov'al decision making. IPSA.