Beyond Garbage Cans: An Al Model of Organizational Choice

This study builds on the simulation methodology on which the metaphor of garbage can decision making was originally based, presenting a new model of organizational decision making that complements the original garbage can model by combining ambiguous choice with decision making under conditions of s...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Administrative science quarterly 1989-03, Vol.34 (1), p.38-67
Main Authors: Masuch, Michael, LaPotin, Perry
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Artificial intelligence
Bounded rationality
Computer based modeling
Computer modeling
Decision making
Garbage cans
Heroes
Management styles
Modeling
Organization theory
Organizational structure
Productivity
Search strategies
Simulation
Simulations
Social research
Workloads
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Description
Summary:This study builds on the simulation methodology on which the metaphor of garbage can decision making was originally based, presenting a new model of organizational decision making that complements the original garbage can model by combining ambiguous choice with decision making under conditions of structure. The new model overcomes important, design-related limitations of previous studies by adopting tools from artificial intelligence (Al). Based on the interplay of actors, skills, actions, issues, and structure, the model represents human decision making as symbol-driven search activity. The results of the simulation indicate that decision making in organized structures may become as disorderly as decision making in organized anarchies, but for different reasons.
ISSN:0001-8392
1930-3815
DOI:10.2307/2392985