Value Oriented Social Decision Analysis: A Communication Tool for Public Decision Making on Technological Projects

Abstract

Many public policy problems at all levels — national, regional, state, and local — involve issues that can not easily be reduced to simple either-or propositions. That is, the problem involves diverse constituencies and interest groups who can not be grouped into two sides so that trade-offs can be made and a resolution reached through the typical political process (in the United States). For example, at the local level such an issue would involve extending the runways of the local airport, building a shopping center in a suburban area, or combining the fire and police departments into one organization. In such situations, the usual political alignments do not apply, as Republican and Democratic council-persons will align themselves on both sides of the issue because typical party loyalties among the citizens do not yield predictable stands on the issue.