Modelling Complex Decision-Making

Abstract

This paper continues on from previous work carried out by Smith (1997). In that paper there was a description of the research which was being carried out into the modelling of the discharge decision-making process in the domain of Mental Health Care using the Appreciative Inquiry Method (AIM). Some of the lessons learnt about the domain and the method of inquiry AIM were described and illustrated However the discharge decision-making process was used as the chosen domain in this research as it has been described as a complex decision-making process. In this paper there will be a discussion of the terms complexity and complex decision-making and the criteria for complex decision-making used in this research will be identified. These criteria will then be used to evaluate the discharge decision process to illustrate that it is an example of complex decision-making. There have been many attempts by various authors to describe and classify ‘models’ and ‘modelling’ and in this paper there will be a brief outline of the arguments put forward and a definition and classification will be proposed. This classification and the criteria for complex decision-making will explain why AIM was chosen as the modelling approach in this research. In the previous paper some of the lessons learnt from the research about the domain, AIM and the theoretical underpinnings to AIM were identified and discussed. However in this paper general lessons drawn from the research about the problems of modelling complex decision-making, decision-making and complexity will be outlined.