About the Book
Handbook of Decision Making includes the wisdom of the long theological and philosophical traditions of human society, as well as a systematic exploration of the implications of contemporary evolutionary theories. Common patterns in decision making styles are identified as well as the common variations that different contexts may generate. The text covers the multiplicity of mainstream decision making styles 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 discussed using decision making practices in budgeting, public administration and governance, drug trafficking, and information systems.
Table of Contents:
Part I: Decision Making: An Overview of Theories, Contexts, and Methods, Part II: Theories of Decision Making, The Contribution of Public Choice Analysis to Decision Making Theories in Public Administration: Past, Present, and Future, Policy Making Through Disjointed Incrementalism, Bounded Rationality and Organizational Influence: Herbert Simon and the Behavioral Revolution, Practical Reasoning and Action: Simon's Administrative Behavior in Contex, Discourse, Decision, and the Doublet: An Essay on Crisis of Modern, Evolution, Cognition, and Decision Making, Punctuated Equilibrium Models in Organizational Decision Making, Democratic Theory As a Frame for Decision Making: The Challenges by Discourse Theory and Governance Theory, Governing Policy Networks, Complex Systems Thinking and its Implications for Policy Analysis, The New Sensibilities of Nonlinear Decision Making: Timing, Praxis, and a Feel for Relationship, Decision Making in Interdisciplinary Studies, Foundations of Confucian Decision Making, Decision: Nishitani on Time and Karma, Theology and Decision Making: Judaism, Part III: Contexts of Decision Making, Decision Making in Public Management Networks, Political Decision Making within Metropolitan Areas, The Rules of Drug Trafficking: Decision Making in Colombian Narcotics Enterprises, Information, Technology, and Decision Making, Decision-Making Models Used in E-Government Projects: Evidence from Turkey, Budgeting as an Institutional Practice: Modeling Decision Making in the Budget, Strategic Planning and Decision Making, Part IV: Methods of Decision Making, Experiments and Quasi-Experiments for Decision Making: Why, How, and How Good? Cost Benefit Analysis, Linear Programming and Integer Programming: Choosing the Optimal Mix of Alternatives, Queuing Theory and Simulations, Decision Making in Geographic Information Systems, Q Methodology and Decision Making, Methods of Assessing and Enhancing Creativity for Public Policy Decision Making, Participatory Dec
Review :
The handbook 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. Decision making styles and processes vary with context and no single theory is comprehensive enough to capture the complexity involved. The editor identifies common patterns and variations that different contexts may generate. The text covers mainstream methods of decision making such as cost benefit analysis, linear programming, and queuing. It also explains alternative and emerging methods such as GIS, Q-methodology, narrative policy analysis, methods of creative thinking, and conflict management. Practical applications of the methods discussed are illustrated by examples of decision making practices in budgeting, public administration, drug trafficking, and information systems. Presenting a variety of different perspectives on rationality in decision making, this handbook offers an understanding of those processes in a broader social context, which will enable decision makers to find the best methods for a given circumstance. -- Abstracts of Public Administration, Development, and Environment, October 2010
