At
the beginning of this chapter, decision making was defined as occurring in two
stages : problem identification and problem solution. The Carnegie description
of coalition building is especially relevant for the problem identification
stage. When issues are ambiguous or if managers disagree about problem
severity, discussion, negotiation, and coalition building are needed. Once
agreement is reached about the problem to be tackled, the organization can move
toward a solution.
The
incremental process model tends to emphasize the steps used to reach a
solution. After managers agree upon a problem the step by step process is a way
of trying various solutions to see what will work. When problem solution is
unclear a trial and error solution may be designed.
The
two models do not disagree with one another. They describe how organizations
make decisions when either problem identification or solution is uncertain. The
application of these two models to the stages in the decision process is
illustrated in exhibit 11.5. When both parts of the decision process are highly
uncertain simultaneously, the organization is in an extremely difficult
position. Decision processes in that situation may be a combination of Carnegie and incremental process models, and
this combination may evolve into a situation described in the garbage can
model.
