Social Decision Methodology for Technological Projects

Viac o knihe

This book emerges from the belief that the preparation and management of large-scale technological projects can be significantly enhanced. The often troubling outcomes of societal and political decision-making regarding projects like hazardous chemical installations, new electric power plants, and solid waste storage have highlighted the need for improvement. While probabilistic risk analysis, technical reliability analysis, and environmental impact analysis are essential, they alone cannot ensure acceptable and justifiable social decisions. Effective socio-technical decision-making requires more than simply applying acceptance rules based on low accident probabilities or maximum credible accidents; it must also consider psychological, social, and political factors, as well as decision-making methods. This conviction led to an international workshop titled 'Social decision methodology for technological projects' (SDMTP) in May 1986 at the University of Groningen, where Cvetkovich was on sabbatical. The workshop aimed to survey these issues and identify methods to address them, serving as the first phase of a broader effort that culminated in this volume. The book systematically addresses the key challenges of socio-technical decision-making, presents useful approaches and methods, and offers integrative conclusions and recommendations for both policymakers and methodologists.