Decision making about decision making: metamodels and metasystems
In: Cybernetics and systems series 7
In: Cybernetics and systems series 7
In: Public administration and public policy, 123
Handbook of Decision Making is the first text of its kind to include the mainstream methods and theories of decision making, as well as the influence of theological and philosophical traditions, and contemporary scientific theories. Common patterns are identified and the variations that different contexts may generate. The text covers the mainstream methods of decision making such as cost-benefit analysis and linear programming. It also explains alternative and emerging methods such as geographic information systems, Q-methodology, and narrative policy analysis. Practical applications are disc.
In: Public administration and public policy 123
Handbook of Decision Making is the first text of its kind to include the mainstream methods and theories of decision making, as well as the influence of theological and philosophical traditions, and contemporary scientific theories. Common patterns are identified and the variations that different contexts may generate. The text covers the mainstream methods of decision making such as cost-benefit analysis and linear programming. It also explains alternative and emerging methods such as geographic information systems, Q-methodology, and narrative policy analysis. Practical applications are disc
Publisher's description: ``Describes basic concepts of rational decision making and decision analysis to the reader -- offers insights that help to systematically analyze decision making problems in professional and private life and helps the reader to come up with a problem solution based on a higher degree of rationality -- updating/inclusion of current research, in-depth discussion of selected topics, additional exercises/case studies. This textbook conveys methods that can improve decision making processes in various fields such as economics, politics, and medicine as well as in personal life. Areas of focus are decision making under conflicting objectives, decision making under risk and uncertainty, decision making with incomplete information about individual preferences or probabilities, and the consideration of time preferences. Special emphasis is placed on the procedures and concepts applicability. Explicit sample applications show the methods benefit for a wide area of decision making problems. Exercises from daily life make it easy for the reader to understand the key insights from decision analysis."" \par This English edition corresponds to the 5th German one. Hence this book is close to completeness. Yet in this reviewer's opinion there are two comments: First a section with hints on the problems for solution is needed. Second a comparison with decision making in animals may be useful since recently [{\it D. Sumpter}, Collective animal behavior. Princeton Univ. Press (2010)] it was shown that collective animal behavior is highly efficient.
In: UC Press voices revived
When President Kennedy appointed Robert McNamara Secretary of Defense in January, 1961 and McNamara called on Charles Hitch to join him, a new era of defense policy leadership was clearly at hand. Great problems of organization had emerged along with vast increases in American responsibility for the security of the free world in the post-war era of rapidly changing military technology. Defense department unification and other controversial questions of organiz
In: The Irwin series in management and the behavioral sciences