Epilogue

Abstract

Two major branches of social and engineering sciences—social choice theory and systems analysis—seldom come together. Social choice theory guides the methods we use to choose among a given slate of alternatives. Systems analysis helps us think of new choices. Our efforts in this book are to show how the two areas of thought can be combined fruitfully to enhance organizational decision-making. Systems perspectives encourage thinking about how things interconnect. Deliberation processes that allow nonlinear thinking encourage systemwide thinking. Multi-criteria decision methods tell us how to evaluate choices with multiple dimensions of value. New methods of social choice give people methods to vote on all the choices together, holistically. Combining all of these will lead to a system that produces better design, decisions, and democracy.