Decision Making

Within systems science, decision making is the process of selecting a course of action to influence a complex system's behavior, moving beyond a simple choice between alternatives to consider the intricate web of interconnected components, feedback loops, and potential delays. This perspective emphasizes that any decision is an intervention whose consequences can ripple throughout the system, often leading to unintended outcomes, thus requiring a holistic understanding of the system's structure and dynamics to navigate complexity and guide it toward a desired state.

1. Foundations of Decision Making
   1. Traditional Decision Making Approaches
      1. Rational Choice Theory
      2. Bounded Rationality
      3. Behavioral Decision Theory
      4. Intuitive Decision Making
   2. Systems Perspective on Decision Making
      1. Decision Making as System Intervention
      2. Embedded Nature of Decisions
      3. Interconnected Consequences
      4. Temporal Dimensions of Decisions
   3. Distinguishing Decision Making from Problem Solving
      1. Definitional Differences
      2. Process Distinctions
      3. Contextual Applications
      4. Integration Opportunities