EXPLAINING DECISION PROCESSES

An empirically derived explanation for a threefold typology of the decision-making process is presented. The approach separates, within the intricacies of decision making, the variables that describe the matters under decision from those that describe the process of decision. One is used to explain...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of management studies 1991-05, Vol.28 (3), p.227-252
Main Authors: Cray, David, Mallory, Geoffrey R., Butler, Richard J., Hickson, David J., Wilson, David C.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Decision analysis
Decision making
Decision theory
Discriminant analysis
Processes
Studies
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Summary:An empirically derived explanation for a threefold typology of the decision-making process is presented. The approach separates, within the intricacies of decision making, the variables that describe the matters under decision from those that describe the process of decision. One is used to explain the other. It is shown that particular types of process tend to happen because of the particular kinds of decision being made. While vortex kinds of decision most often generate sporadic types of process, tractable kinds of decision most often generate fluid types of process, and familiar kinds of decision most often generate constricted types of process. The proposal attempts to replace single case descriptions and collections of rules of thumb with a rigorous and systematic analysis of the processual aspects of decision making. In this way, managers can understand past actions as well as predict the likely course of future efforts.
ISSN:0022-2380
1467-6486
DOI:10.1111/j.1467-6486.1991.tb00946.x