Decision-Making Within a Changing Normative Structure

In this paper, a situation is examined where standard operating procedures in governmental organizations were challenged. On such occasions an organization is not simply a vehicle for solving well-defined problems as efficiently as possible. We see competing definitions of the problems, the best solutions, expertise and the rules of procedure. Outcomes are not limited to the immediate substantive outcomes. As important is the establishing of future social relationships and definitions of the situation. While classical administrative and democratic theory suggest that changes in standard operating procedures may be instantaneous, we believe this type of change to be the exception rather than the rule. In this article, it is suggested that the garbage can model at least under some conditions be an adequate descnption of the decision making in a polity experiencing challenges of established routines. This is illustrated by the decision making processes concerning the location of Norway's third medical school. In this case, new definitions of the problems involved were raised, new participants activated, and the outcome so clearly suggested by existing standard operating procedures not selected

Democracy · Economics · Management science · Microeconomics · Normative · Operations research · Outcome (game theory · Political science · Politics · Polity · Positive economics · Computer Science · Engineering · European and International Law Studies · Law

• Administrative Science Quarterly

  Open Access•Robert D Miewald, Robert Miewald•The American Review of Public…•1981

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