Varieties of Decision-making Arenas and Styles: Table

Year: 
1991

This table was originally developed from a commentary on varieties of decision-making (Guiding Metaphors and Configuring Choices)
A variant was subsequently developed as Varieties of Dialogue Arenas and Styles) (Table) and as
a Varieties of Disciplinarity, Interdisciplinarity and Transdisciplinarity (Table)


TABLE I: Varieties of decision-making arenas (and styles)   

.
INTRA- 
PARADIGMATIC   

"Straight-forward"  
Relatively stable  
"Deciding about"  
Without unstated  
 constraints   

Single value  
Implementation  
Short-term tactical  
 concerns  
Technique/Science
CROSS- 
PARADIGMATIC   

"Aggressive constraints"  
Relatively dynamic  
"Reactive decision- 
 making"  
Prevalence of unstated  
 (or secret) constraints   
Multi valued  
Extension  
Medium term strategic  
concerns  
Art / Techne
INTER- 
PARADIGMATIC   

"Fuzzy constraints"  
Dynamically unstable  
"Deciding in response to"  
With and without  
 unstated constraints  
Value development  
Anticipation  
Longer term strategic 
 concerns  
Inspiration
META- 
PARADIGMATIC   

"Holistic"  
Turbulent  
"Incorporating decision"  
Neither with nor without  
 unstated constraints  
Value emergence  
Integration/Embodiment  
Atemporal concerns  
Insight
 Groups

KNOWLEDGE RESOURCES   

(Conceptware)


Arena III 
KNOW-HOW  
DEVELOPMENT   

Education / Training 
 (UNESCO)  
Expertise development 
Skills development (ILO) 
Mass communications 
 (UNESCO)  
Dissemination of 
knowledge  
Indoctrination 


Arena VIII 
INNOVATION /
DEVELOPMENT   

Applied research (R & D)  
Knowledge engineering  
(Intellectual exploitation)  
(Propaganda / Censorship) 
Arena XI
DISCOVERY /
INVENTION   

Fundamental research  

Research strategy  

Lateral thinking  

Creativity  
Arena XII 
APPROPRIATE
PATTERNING   

Pattern creation   
* Epistemic landscape design 
* Pattern transformation 
* Morphogenetic patterning 
Guiding metaphors  
* Image schematics 
* Structural archetypes 
Kairos  
Group C   

Transformative decision-making  

(XI - XII)


HUMAN
RESOURCES   

(Groupware)


Arena II
HUMAN RESOURCE
MANAGEMENT   

Personnel management  
 (ILO):  
*Wage scales 
*Hiring/firing policies 
*Conditions of work 

Public health/safety  
 (ILO/WHO)  
Social security (ILO)  
Population planning  
 (UNFPA)  
Food supply (FAO/WFP) 


Arena VII 
SOCIAL
DEVELOPMENT 

Dealing with demanding others:   
*Competitors / Opponents 
*Employee / Labour relations 
*Community 
*Underprivileged / Foreigners 

Human development  
Social engineering  
(Social exploitation)  
(Collusion/Conspiracy)  
(Subversion/Blackmail)  


Arena IX
RESPONSIVE
ORGANIZATION   

Mutuality in decision-making:   
*Worker participation 
*Self-management 
*Social responsibility 

Social Charter (EEC) 
Development with "human face"  
Personal development  
Organizational/Business ethics  
Professional ethics 
Arena X 
APPROPRIATE
ORGANIZATION   

Organizational:  
* Transformation 
* Culture design / appropriation 
* Images / symbol appropriation 

Symbolic decisions  
Appropriate commitment  
"Projet social"  
Political will to change 
Group B   

Innovative decision-making  

(VII - X)


MATERIAL
RESOURCES   

(Hardware)


 Arena I 
RESOURCE 
OPTIMIZATION   

Operational decisions:  
*Commerce/Trade
 (UNCTAD/GATT) 
*Industry (UNIDO) 

Short-term development:  
*Resource allocation 
*Cost/Effectiveness 
*Programmed investment 

Dealing/Bargaining  
Calculated risk  
Arena IV 
ECONOMIC
DEVELOPMENT  

Development (R & D)  
Engineering / Architecture  

Medium-term development (OECD):  
*Financial system (G-7) 
*Structural adjustment    (IMF) 
*Agriculture (FAO) 
*Commerce/Trade (UNCTAD/GATT) 
*Industry (UNIDO) 
(Econ. exploitation)  
(Bribery / "Commissions") 
Arena V 
FUTURE   
UNCERTAINTY  

Long-term investment  
Futures markets 
Risk / actuarial analysis 

Long-term development (UNCTAD)  
Agriculture (FAO) 
Environmental conserv. (UNEP) 
Arena VI 
MATERIAL
APPROPRIATENESS  

Appropriate technology:  
*Product appropriateness  
*Product design  

Sustainable development (UNCED)  
Group A   

Adaptive decision-making  

(I - VI)


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