Some remarks on the application of decision-aids in the public sector

• Published in: European journal of operational research Vol. 7; no. 2; pp. 191 - 195
• Main Author: Rochat, Jean-Claude
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Amsterdam Elsevier B.V 01.01.1981; Elsevier; Elsevier Sequoia S.A
• Series: European Journal of Operational Research
• Subjects: Applications; Case studies; Decision making; Decisions; Environmental management; Methods; Political; Public administration; Public sector; Switzerland
• ISSN: 0377-2217; 1872-6860
• DOI: 10.1016/0377-2217(81)90281-2

This communication is concerned with the role of optimisation or more generally, with decisions aids in political decision-making. In such delicate social questions as urban planning and environmental management, the concept of ‘efficiency’ is difficult to formalise as an objective function. Constraints are also not well defined. However, models may be useful in investigating the rational part which is present in any political decision. We comment on 3 aspects. First, horizontal decisions, i.e. the internal problems of a public administration. Second, vertical decisions where optimisation methods may help determine at what level (local, regional or national) a problem should be solved. Third, the transfer of activities such as public transport from the private to the public sector or vice versa. We then comment on 2 practical subjects, namely what has been done in the city of Lausanne and the essential features of environmental management problems. It is not the purpose to present a general theory of the use of decision aids on public sector problems, but to remark on the difficulties encountered in attempts to apply optimisation methods in this domain.