Brandon C.
PAF 602 (Fall 2008)

Abstract

Simon, H. A. (1997). Administrative Behavior, 4th Edition. Free Press.

Herbert Simon’s Administrative Behavior is an extensive analysis of decision making in organizations. Relying heavily on the work of Chester Barnard, Simon analyzes organizational decision making from the flawed classical “administrative principals” to a new interpretation of decision making through the use of elements of modern human psychology. Simon’s central argument seems to be that an organization can be defined through its decision-making processes and that the gauge of success is the achievement of objective organizational goals. Read the rest of this entry »

Tags: Barnard, critique, decision-making, efficiency, expertise, government, objective, public administration