Decision Making Theory: A Consultant’s Guide to Getting Technical Information Used

A simple model of the decision making process of a consultee can help clarify his data needs, and thus can guide a consultant in how to present and how to obtain better use of his technical information. Seven characteristics of developing countries which affect decision making are described. An approach to advising, matched to the nine elements of decision making, is suggested. To get relevant available information used by policy makers in important policy decisions in any program is itself an important problem. Much existing and german information is not available or is not in an employable form at the time when programmatic decisions must be made. One of the main functions of a technical advisor is to collect, clarify, and focus existing information to make it acceptable to and usable by a decision maker in an agency. The technical advisor or consultant must relate the amount, the selection, and the form of his information to the style, interest and particular problems of hi