Rational Choice and Judgment - Decision Analysis for the Decider

Informationen zum Autor REX BROWN was trained as a social scientist and statistician. He currently holds the position of Distinguished Senior Fellow in the School of Public Policy at George Mason University. He has worked as a decision-making adviser to government and business leaders, and has taught decision analysis for statistics, psychology, and management programs at Harvard Business School, Cambridge University, and the London School of Economics and Political Science. Klappentext The tools needed to make a better, more informed decision This book takes an innovative approach to decision analysis that moves away from cumbersome, quantitative methods to give students and professionals decision-making tools that can be applied immediately. The author, who has forty years of experience in top-level decision consulting, explains how deciders actually think about their choices from the beginning and provides methods to solve problems by addressing a given choice several different ways. Simple decision-making models are integrated into the thinking process to add logical rigor. Careful account is taken of the use, the user, and the organization, as well as all available data and subjective knowledge. Next, readers are given the chance to apply their new skills to resolve real-life problems. Beginning with the basics, the text advances progressively, enabling readers to develop, and then use, more sophisticated decision-making skills that can be applied in both public and private enterprise, including: Modeling decision making under conditions of uncertainty or multiple objectives Risk analysis and risk assessment Facilitating group decision making Making personal life choices and political judgments Economic analysis of competitive and strategic decisions The cornerstone of Rational Choice and Judgment is a term project presented in the final chapter, where readers can pick an actual decision-making problem and apply their newfound tools to prepare a recommendation. A sample student report is provided in the Appendix. Replete with exercises, case studies, and observations from the author's own extensive consulting experience, the book quickly engages readers and enables them to master decision analysis by doing rather than simply reading. Using familiar situations, readers learn how to handle knowledge as it unfolds in the real world. Because of its broad applicability, this is an excellent resource for any professional in any organization. It also serves as a textbook for decision-making courses in a variety of fields, including public policy, business management, and systems engineering. Zusammenfassung * Unlike the competition this book is problem rather than tool oriented* Provides simple a set of simple systematic heuristic methods for a general course in decision making* Accompanied by an Instructor's Guide. Contact rexvbrown@aol. com. . Inhaltsverzeichnis Preface. Who Might Use This Book. Background. Substance of this Book. Pedagogy. Demands on Students and Instructor. Other Approaches, Other Materials. Author Background. Acknowledgments. Prolog: A Baby Delivery Dilemma. 1. Basics and Overview. 2. Uses of Decision Analysis. Appendix 2A: Decision Analysis Reflects on His Work. 3. Evaluating a Choice Qualitatively. 4. Quantitative Aid to Rational Choice. Appendix 4A: Business Decision Tree Example. Appendix 4B: Private Example: Study or Play? 5. Describing Outcomes. 6. Taking Preference Into Account. 7. Choice Under Uncertainty. Appendix 7A. Technical Notes. 8. Decision Aiding Strategy. Appendix 8A. Influence Sketches. 9. Aiding the Professional Decider. Appendix 9A. Environmental Regulation Case Study. 10. Assessing and Inferring Probabilities. 1...

List of contents

Preface.
Who Might Use This Book.

Background.

Substance of this Book.

Pedagogy.

Demands on Students and Instructor.

Other Approaches, Other Materials.

Author Background.

Acknowledgments.

Prolog: A Baby Delivery Dilemma.

1. Basics and Overview.

2. Uses of Decision Analysis.

Appendix 2A: Decision Analysis Reflects on His Work.

3. Evaluating a Choice Qualitatively.

4. Quantitative Aid to Rational Choice.

Appendix 4A: Business Decision Tree Example.

Appendix 4B: Private Example: Study or Play?

5. Describing Outcomes.

6. Taking Preference Into Account.

7. Choice Under Uncertainty.

Appendix 7A. Technical Notes.

8. Decision Aiding Strategy.

Appendix 8A. Influence Sketches.

9. Aiding the Professional Decider.

Appendix 9A. Environmental Regulation Case Study.

10. Assessing and Inferring Probabilities.

11. Eliciting Preferences.

12. Applied Term Project.

Appendix 12A. Student Project Report.

Epilog.

References.

Glossary of Concepts and Terms.

Index.

Report

"...the most thorough and accessible treatment of decision analysis that I am familiar with...a comprehensive toolkit that will be useful to anyone who seeks further practice in using the technology." ( PscyCRITIQUES , July 19, 2006)
"...a well-written textbook aimed at helping students make better personal and professional decisions...the techniques in the book are worthy of study." ( MAA Reviews , April 8, 2006)

"...the book presents an insight on the practical application of decision analysis in the private and public sector." ( EADM Bulletin , Autumn 2005)

"...an excellent resource for any organization or as a textbook for decision-making courses in a variety of fields, including public policy, business management, and systems engineering." ( SirReadaLot.org )

"This book will be particularly useful to people who must make complex decisions for their organizations. It is very clearly written and well-organized. General readers will find it interesting and accessible."
-Robert Pirie, Former Under Secretary of the Navy and Assistant Secretary of Defense

"In the 40 years since we worked together on the beginnings of decision analysis at Harvard Business School, Brown has adapted it to the practical needs of real deciders and become a uniquely successful decision aider to top executives. He has distilled this experience here for real-world deciders with unmatched authority, clarity and candor."
-Andrew Kahr, business strategist, described as one of the "great visionaries" of the financial world (by Joseph Nocera, A Piece of the Action )

"This is a lively, readable, yet intellectually honest introduction to decision analysis by one of the field s leaders. While it does not review the scholarly literature, it is informed by that literature. The exercises and examples seem excellent because they are realistic (or humorous, or both). The coverage is thorough, practical and well-written."
-Jonathan Baron, author of Thinking and Deciding

"What this book does so successfully is to give innumerate practitioners some systematic ways of thinking about their problems, so that they have a framework available for a new situation when it arises. For example, even the (plus-minus tally procedure) aids the decider in thinking about the influential factors and their relative importances. Another brilliant feature is the plethora of fine examples and exercises which I found enormously clarifying but also thought-provoking. Yes, a fine book."

-Dennis Lindley, Emeritus Professor of Statistics, University College London, and author of Making Decisions

"The more complex the decision making task is, the more it is a strange combination of art and science. (This) book makes that very clear and effectively challenges the reader to deal with this ambiguity."

-Alan Merten, President, George Mason University

Product details

• Authors: BROWN, Phillip Brown, r Brown, R. Brown, Rex Brown, Rex (Distinguished Senior Fellow Brown, Rex V. Brown, Brown Rex
• Publisher: Wiley, John and Sons Ltd
• Languages: English
• Product format: Hardback
• Released: 20.05.2005
• EAN: 9780471202370
• ISBN: 978-0-471-20237-0
• No. of pages: 280
• Series: Wiley Series in Systems Engineering and Management; Wiley Series in Systems Engine; Wiley Series in Systems Engineering and Management
• Subjects: Natural sciences, medicine, IT, technology > Mathematics > Miscellaneous; Social sciences, law, business > Business > Management; BUSINESS & ECONOMICS / Decision-Making & Problem Solving, MATHEMATICS / Applied, Management decision making, Applied mathematics