Decision Behaviour, Analysis and Support

A multi-disciplinary exploration of how we can help decision makers to deliberate and make better decisions.

Simon French (Author), John Maule (Author), Nadia Papamichail (Author)

9780521883344, Cambridge University Press

Hardback, published 30 July 2009

502 pages, 28 tables
25.4 x 17.8 x 2.8 cm, 1.13 kg

'Decision Behaviour, Analysis and Support provides a valuable resource for all involved in the decision making process. Certainly, managers with decision making responsibilities at any level of an organization would benefit from this comprehensive understanding of the intricacies of decision science.' International Journal of Strategic Decision Sciences

Behavioural studies have shown that while humans may be the best decision makers on the planet, we are not quite as good as we think we are. We are regularly subject to biases, inconsistencies and irrationalities in our decision making. Decision Behaviour, Analysis and Support explores perspectives from many different disciplines to show how we can help decision makers to deliberate and make better decisions. It considers both the use of computers and databases to support decisions as well as human aids to building analyses and some fast and frugal tricks to aid more consistent decision making. In its exploration of decision support it draws together results and observations from decision theory, behavioural and psychological studies, artificial intelligence and information systems, philosophy, operational research and organisational studies. This provides a valuable resource for managers with decision-making responsibilities and students from a range of disciplines, including management, engineering and information systems.

List of figures
List of tables
List of case vignettes
List of abbreviations and notation
Preface
Acknowledgements
1. Introduction
2. Behavioural decision studies
3. Decision analysis and support
4. Information and knowledge management
5. Artificial intelligence and expert systems
6. Operational research and optimisation
7. Decision analysis and multiple objectives
8. Decision analysis and uncertainty
9. Issue formulation and problem structuring
10. Strategic decision analysis
11. Groups of decision makers
12. Organisational decision support
13. Societal decision making
14. Decision support systems
15. Conclusions
Index
Bibliography.

Subject Areas: Management decision making [KJMD], Decision theory: general [GPQ]