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Policy as Argument---A Logic for Ill-Structured Decision Problems

Author

Listed:
  • Ian I. Mitroff

    (University of Southern California)

  • Richard O. Mason

    (University of Southern California)

  • Vincent P. Barabba

    (Eastman Kodak Co., Rochester, New York)

Abstract

This paper presents a new framework for handling ill-structured decision problems. The framework derives from recent developments in the logic of argumentation. It shows how policy statements may under certain conditions be construed as the outcome of a complex process of argumentation. The framework is especially suited to ill-structured decision problems since it is capable of handling explicit contradictions and missing parts in an argument structure. It is also shown by means of a new concept---plausibility---how it is possible to locate the weakest links in a complex argument. A major consequence of the concept of plausibility is that it is possible under certain conditions to transform a problem in the logic of argumentation (i.e., symbolic logic) into one of algebra (i.e., linear programming).

Suggested Citation

  • Ian I. Mitroff & Richard O. Mason & Vincent P. Barabba, 1982. "Policy as Argument---A Logic for Ill-Structured Decision Problems," Management Science, INFORMS, vol. 28(12), pages 1391-1404, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:inm:ormnsc:v:28:y:1982:i:12:p:1391-1404
    DOI: 10.1287/mnsc.28.12.1391
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    Cited by:

    1. Giovanni. Gavetti & Daniel A. Levinthal, 2004. "50th Anniversay Article: The Strategy Field from the Perspective of Management Science: Divergent Strands and Possible Integration," Management Science, INFORMS, vol. 50(10), pages 1309-1318, October.
    2. Gu, Jifa & Tang, Xijin, 2005. "Meta-synthesis approach to complex system modeling," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 166(3), pages 597-614, November.
    3. Saeedi, Masoud H. & Sillince, John A. A., 2001. "Issues of feasibility, coherence, and robustness in a premise-to-claim model of argumentation: Results from four experiments," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 133(1), pages 94-119, August.
    4. T. S. Raghu & R. Ramesh & Ai-Mei Chang & Andrew B. Whinston, 2001. "Collaborative Decision Making: A Connectionist Paradigm for Dialectical Support," Information Systems Research, INFORMS, vol. 12(4), pages 363-383, December.
    5. Fred Niederman & John Bryson, 1998. "Influence of Computer-Based Meeting Support on Process and Outcomes for a Divisional Coordinating Group," Group Decision and Negotiation, Springer, vol. 7(4), pages 293-325, July.

    More about this item

    Keywords

    planning: philosophy of modeling;

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