Procedural Rationality Research Articles

Are South Korea’s Environmental Policies Rational? An Analysis Focusing on Fine Dust Programs in the Seoul Metropolitan Area

Since 2018, the government of South Korea has strengthened its environmental policies to solve the problem of fine particulate matter in the air. Because of these strict regulations, diesel cars have been replaced with cleaner vehicles, and coal power plants have been shut down. Despite these government efforts, some researchers assert that fine dust programs have failed in Seoul, the capital of Korea. In other words, they conclude that the central and local governments designed and implemented the policies unreasonably. Despite these critics, this study attempts to prove that the government has thoroughly and meticulously prepared its policies on fine particles. Also, it tries to demonstrate that the policy scheme has been properly established. To attain these research goals, the theory of procedural rationality is adopted and utilized. As a result of the analysis, six steps of procedural rationality were identified in the Korean policy on fine dust: problem identification, goal setting, searching for alternatives, consequence prediction, comparison of alternatives, and policy decision. In conclusion, this study provides suggestions for environmental policies in other metropolitan cities, especially in developing countries that suffer from severe air pollution.

The Accuracy–Coherence Trade-Off in Cognition

I argue that bounded agents face a systematic accuracy-coherence tradeoff in cognition. Agents must choose whether to structure their cognition in ways likely to promote coherence or accuracy. I illustrate the accuracy-coherence tradeoff by showing how it arises out of at least two component tradeoffs: a coherence-complexity tradeoff between coherence and cognitive complexity, and a coherence-variety tradeoff between coherence and strategic variety. These tradeoffs give rise to an accuracy-coherence tradeoff because privileging coherence over complexity or strategic variety often leads to a corresponding reduction in accuracy. I conclude with a discussion of two normative consequences for the study of bounded rationality: the importance of procedural rationality and the role of coherence in theories of bounded rationality

Strategy Is Only Partly an Illusion: “Relative Foresight” as an Objective Standard for Evaluating Foreign Policy Competence

Abstract Foreign policymakers must grapple with complexity, uncertainty, and subjectivity. These challenges raise the possibility that “strategy is an illusion”: that there is no reliable method for assessing skill at managing international politics. By contrast, we show that researchers can objectively evaluate a critical component of foreign policy competence using a standard we call “relative foresight,” defined as decision-makers’ ability to anticipate consequences of their choices as compared to alternative views based on similar information. Relative foresight can be measured without relying on value judgments or subjective probabilities. By contrast, other common frameworks for gauging foreign policy competence, such as comparing leaders’ behavior to the rational actor model or assessing procedural rationality, almost always leave room for reasonable disagreement. We demonstrate that relative foresight provides a useful tool for evaluating major foreign policy choices through case studies of Barack Obama’s decisions regarding the Afghan Surge and the raid on Osama bin Laden’s compound. Our framework has broad implications for research on normative, prescriptive, and descriptive dimensions of foreign policy analysis.

Transactive Memory Systems and Acquisition Performance: A Strategic Decision Making Process Perspective

AbstractDuring the pre‐merger phase of an acquisition, fundamental decisions are made concerning whether to buy, which company to buy, and how much to pay. Further, acquisitions carry significant firm‐wide implications requiring input from multiple different specializations, and hence, they are the product of the judgements, decisions, and social interactions between top managers. We focus our theory development on a pivotal yet under‐researched top management team characteristic, transactive memory system (TMS). TMS is the shared division of cognitive labour with respect to encoding, storing, and retrieving knowledge from individual areas of expertise. We theorize that TMT transactive memory directly influences the strategic decision making process, which in turn determines acquisition performance. We test our hypotheses with a sample of 109 acquisitions, combining survey and archival data. We find that TMT transactive memory increases reliance on expert intuition and procedural rationality, while reducing political behaviour; and each of these three strategic decision processes carries different implications for acquisition performance. Our study advances theory by explaining the team‐level behavioural mechanisms that underlie acquisition performance.

Ethics and rule breaking in a vulnerable society: some challenges

Scientific and procedural rationality becomes compatible with subjectivism, increasing the modern ethical void. In this work I will show how that void impact in disruptive behavior. First, I shortly describe the general problem of our moral culture making dialogue one of the most important contemporary moral philosophers, Enmanuel Levinas and the sociologist Zygmunt Bauman, who has made the main critical contribution to the moral culture. Second, I will make some observations in the sphere of art, where it is specially notorious how the crisis of ethics due to the evolution of the culture of individualism affects to the behavior erasing limits -v.g. Proof-Of-Authority-, extending the beliefs that all is possible, that anyone can do anything, everything can happen, and, so that, rules and forecast are perceived more relatives that never. In a third step, I will focus the attention on the multidisciplinary field of Criminology -rule breaking, deviance-, because it is the main place where can be proof the failure of norms which lead society to both, problems for coexistence, and ability to predict insecurity. The formulas invented by social scientist to understand “normal” as well “deviant” behaviour, seems to fail more than ever. That should make us consider two kinds of challenges. How can we reinforce the ethical side of the norms under a cultural environment secularized and liquid, and physically threatened? How can we manage the self-criticism in social sciences so that we not all in the pessimism apparently propitiated by Cancel Culture?

The phenomenon of technoscience from the procedural rationality point of view

The epistemology of science at the present stage is undergoing serious changes. Collaboration between scientific research and business is becoming the norm, which leads to the commercialization of the results of scientific activity. All this is the basis for the development of technoscience. Modern technologized science is closely related to a new type of knowledge production. This work is devoted to understanding the procedural component of the phenomenon of technoscience.

Service Networks With Open Routing and Procedurally Rational Customers

Self-interested customers’ form of reasoning and its consequences for system performance affect the planning decisions of service providers. We study procedurally rational customers—customers who make decisions based on a sample containing anecdotes of the system times experienced by other customers. Specifically, we consider procedurally rational customers in two-station service networks with open routing, that is, customers can choose the order in which to visit the stations. Because some actions may be less represented in the population, a given customer may not succeed in obtaining anecdotes about all possible actions. We introduce a novel sampling framework that extends the procedurally rational framework to incorporate the possibility that a customer may not receive any anecdotes for one of the actions; in this case, the customer uses a prior point estimate in lieu of the missing anecdotes. Under this framework, we study the procedurally rational equilibrium in open routing. We show first that as the sample size grows large, customers’ estimates become more accurate, and the procedurally rational equilibrium converges to the fully rational equilibrium (which is also socially optimal). We then uncover two main findings. First, we obtain bounds on the distance between the procedurally rational and fully rational equilibrium, aiding operational planning and showing the rate of convergence to the fully rational outcome as the sample size of anecdotes of each individual customer grows. Second, if customers obtain anecdotes of both actions with high probability, then the equilibrium will approximate the fully rational outcome, despite the sampling error inherent to procedural rationality.

Social classes, school performance, subjective expected utilities, and educational decisions

There have been several suggestions on how Rational Choice Theories (RCT) for educational decisions could be tested directly. In this empirical analysis, it is argued that these testing strategies have shortcomings, and therefore a different testing strategy is suggested. An innovative specification of a broad version of an RCT for educational decisions is applied, directly taking the utility-maximising behaviour of the actors into account. By using this improved testing strategy, it is demonstrated for young people residing in German-speaking Switzerland that rational decisions play an important role in educational decisions. They calculate the subjective expected benefit of every educational option at the end of compulsory school that, in their view, is relevant to the continuation of their school and vocational training. Panel data show that they ordinally rank the educational options considered according to their benefit and that they choose the option that promises the greatest benefit. For young people in different school branches, it can be seen that the purposive-rational evaluation of the educational options considered and the selection of the educational option with the highest subjectively expected utility are essential mechanisms of educational decision-making characterised by procedural rationality.

Towards simulation of artificial societies of agents with a universal coordination instrument

Developing the models of artificial societies with simulation of agents’ joint socio-economic activity a challenging task is to endow the agents with properties allowing them to mutually take into account each other's intentions and activities. The presence of such properties in agents creates conditions for the emergence of social organization in the modeled system, including processes of coordination and governance. In the proposed study, agents obtain the required properties due to their natural ability to create and use shared (collective) mental models under various modes of communication between them. On this basis, the concept of an agent with a universal coordination instrument (UCI) is substantiated. Agents optimize UCI settings to take full account of each other's activities and maximize the benefits of joint activities. UCI with settings is a common information environment for participants in joint activities, as well as a means of determining the optimal content of their joint activities. The main components and functions of UCI as a special type of agent-based simulation model are discussed. The necessary conditions for using the UCI are considered. From the results obtained it follows that individuals with UCI have both substantive and procedural rationality, which leads to the emergence of two types of equilibrium in the socio-economic system.

The turbulent future of expertise and training markets

PurposeTo explain how technology will replace a great deal of human labor in knowledge markets using a theory of reasoned action applied to demand and theories of procedural rationality, cost structure and system dynamics applied to supply.Design/methodology/approachTwo illustrative scenarios are presented. The first is a third-party Best Treatments site, and its effect on the expert advice pharmaceutical representatives provide doctors. The second scenario is an online higher education business course module with embedded AI.FindingsBoth scenarios demonstrate the advantages of online expertise and teaching platforms over the in-person alternative in variable and marginal cost, ease and convenience of use, quality conformance, scalability, knowledge reach and depth and most importantly, speed of evolutionary adaptability. Despite such overwhelming advantages, a number of reasons why the substitution might be slowed are presented, and some strategies firms might adopt are discussed. Opportunities for service scholars to confirm, challenge and extend the conclusions are presented throughout the paper.Originality/valueIncreasing cost structure and adaptability advantages of online technology and AI over in-person delivery of expertise and training services are demonstrated. It is also demonstrated that the innovation-imitation cycle is accelerating because of exogenous innovation in knowledge access and online influence networks and an endogenous effect where imitators accelerate their innovation that drives innovators to accelerate their innovation, which drives imitators to further accelerate their imitation.

Relevant Parameters for the Mechanochemical Synthesis of Bimetallic Supported Catalysts

Mechanochemical synthesis for the preparation of bimetallic catalysts is gaining increasing interest, and in recent years, some important milestones have been reached. However, the complexity of mechanochemically prepared bimetallic supported catalysts still leaves many open questions that need a systematic approach to be solved. In this work, we summarize our experience of mechanochemically milling bimetallic catalysts, introducing some key parameters that should be taken into account, particularly the thermal stability and hydrophilicity of precursor salts, and the effect of the milling order, highlighting the differences with wet synthesis methods. Finally, we will provide some suggestions on the application of the design of experiments approach to the rationalization of the milling procedure for the preparation of supported bimetallic catalysts.

The Mediating Effects of Entrepreneurial Orientation Between Procedural Rationality and Strategic Decision-making Effectiveness

Researchers have shown interest in theory of organizational information processing and the resource-based theory, as they can both serve to provide competitive advantages for companies. Earlier studies have indicated that procedural rationality is used by firms to increase the demand for information processing when making effective strategic decisions. However, there is limited understanding of the mediating effects of entrepreneurial orientation as an intangible resource for organizations between procedural rationality and strategic decision-making effectiveness in the available studies in the literature. Thus, this study sheds light on the relationship between procedural rationality in strategic decision-making from organizations and their strategic decision-making effectiveness, taking into consideration the mediating effects of entrepreneurial orientation as an intangible resource for organizations. The research model was tested using a structural equation modelling design based on survey data from 162 companies that work under the umbrella of the Saudi financial sector, collated and analysed by software (SPSS and SmartPLS), the research found that procedural rationality in strategic decision-making within organizations positively affected their strategic decision-making effectiveness. Likewise, the research revealed that procedural rationality in strategic decision-making increased the level of entrepreneurial orientation. Moreover, the research findings showed that the high level of entrepreneurial orientation within organizations positively impacted their strategic decision-making effectiveness. These findings enrich the fields of strategic decision-making and procedural rationality through entrepreneurial orientation within organizations, this relationship should synchronize in function focusing on relevant information, data analytics, and strategic approach process. In light of this, this study brings scientific evidence from the perspective of financial companies within Saudi Arabia.

Post-Keynesian Economics: New Foundations by Marc LavoieChapter 2: Theory of Choice

ABSTRACT This work presents and discusses chapter two of Marc Lavoie’s book Post-Keynesian Economics: New Foundations. It begins by analysing the concepts of uncertainty and rationality which are extremely important for the post Keynesian approach, and for economic theorizing in general. The notions of fundamental uncertainty and the closely related concept of procedural rationality, are employed in order to build the foundations of a theory of household choice. It proceeds by investigating the repercussions of the theory in a lexicographic/hierarchical analytical framework. In this framework, groups consume different goods depending on their respective needs, income effects are more important than substitution effects, and price competition has a secondary role. It is also shown that Lavoie’s approach does not only draw from the work of Keynes and other major post-Keynesian theorists, but also utilizes contributions from other strands of heterodox economics, thus providing an agenda for a possible theoretical synthesis.

Beyond labels: Executive action and the duty to consult

Whether executive action attracts a duty to consult has been contested judicial terrain. In this article, we aim to contribute to the development of a principled approach to requiring consultation in executive decision-making. We grapple with the distinction between procedural fairness as a requirement of just administrative action and procedural rationality as a requirement of the principle of legality. We then move beyond these labels by engaging with the values underlying the Constitution's vision of participatory democracy. Despite contradictions in the case law, we suggest that the developing requirement of "procedural rationality" as a basis for a duty to consult offers fertile ground for advancing the values of accountability, responsiveness, and openness in executive decision-making. We therefore encourage recognition of participatory democracy as the normative framework within which the rationality of executive decision-making should be substantively assessed. Finally, we demonstrate that links between participatory democracy, a duty to consult, and executive decision-making have some grounding in existing case law, which, we argue, can be further developed.

Catholic Social Teaching and Economics: Reflections on the Economy of Francesco

The paper describes the impact of the Economy of Francesco (EoF) on the economic debate and practices, within the framework of the Catholic Social Teaching. EoF was a cultural and experiential process and event held online and through a number of meetings around the world between March 2020 and September 2022. The anthropological limitations of homo economicus, with his methodological egoism and procedural rationality, and the need for a broad approach to education are discussed. The paper highlights strengths and weaknesses of EoF and reviews what has been already accomplished in the process and what is still to be accomplished.

FORENSIC INVESTIGATION AS ANOTHER PROCEDURAL ACTION IN THE SYSTEM OF MEANS OF EVIDENCE IN CRIMINAL PROCEEDINGS

Abstract: the article deals with the issues of optimization and rationalization of criminal procedure and forensic activities. The need for changes is caused by the technological equipment of crime, the growth of crimes in the field of computer information and crimes using information and telecommunication technologies, which generates an increasing number of digital traces. The current criminal procedure legislation and technical and forensic activities must be adapted to work with complex information technology devices and digital traces. For these purposes, it is necessary to introduce the concept of forensic examination of documents, objects and electronic media. The right to conduct forensic research should be vested in the investigator (inquirer), and based on its results, draw up a report. If necessary, the investigator may invite a specialist in accordance with applicable law. A specialist on the results of a forensic investigation should draw up a specialist opinion. Optimization of criminal procedural activity will be ensured due to a more harmonious, from the point of view of legal technique, legal basis for conducting any research within the framework of criminal proceedings.

Analysis of Rationalization through Restructuring of Islamic Finance based on the Ihsan Principle

Ihsan is the pursuit of excellence in worship and daily activities to achieve success and happiness so as to be rewarded with sweetness of faith and Paradise for doing something beyond what is required. A person who does not pursue ihsan is not considered as zalim (wrongful or unjust) or failing his religious obligations as long as he is just and fair. The main goal of Islamic banking institutions is to avoid all forms of zulm (injustice, cruelty, oppression, exploitation) in transactions and to distinguish Islamic transactions from conventional financial practices. In order to ensure quality and harmony, muamalat practice must be assessed and reviewed from the perspective of ihsan to gain the blessings and pleasure of Allah SWT. The purpose of this study is to analyze and evaluate the rationalization in restructuring Islamic financing from the perspective of ihsan to ensure the objectives and functions of Islamic financial institutions are achieved. This research is qualitative using the method of content analysis. The data were analyzed using descriptive and deductive methods. The results show that the recommendations from the Central Bank of Malaysia and rationalization of Islamic financing restructuring procedure fulfills the principle of ihsan in past implementation and during the Covid-19 pandemic crisis. Islamic banking institutions have been responsible and exercised forbearance by providing facilities and eliminating difficulties to assist customer dealings. Customers also have the responsibility to banks that have provided financing facilities and accommodated their financial affairs. Hence, this study can serve as a guide to all parties in applying the principle of ihsan to any action and practice to ensure a more meaningful life.

Artificial intelligence and the situational rationality of diagnosis: Human problem‐solving and the artifacts of health and medicine

AbstractWhat is the problem‐solving capacity of artificial intelligence (AI) for health and medicine? This paper draws out the cognitive sociological context of diagnostic problem‐solving for medical sociology regarding the limits of automation for decision‐based medical tasks. Specifically, it presents a practical way of evaluating the artificiality of symptoms and signs in medical encounters, with an emphasis on the visualization of the problem‐solving process in doctor‐patient relationships. In doing so, the paper details the logical differences underlying diagnostic task performance between man and machine problem‐solving: its principle of rationality, the priorities of its means of adaptation to abstraction, and the effects of seeking optimization in the problem‐solving process. Using these parameters as a heuristic for evaluating the capacity of AI to address issues of diagnostic error through design, the paper presents a conceptual review of the discipline of AI in medicine. Studies relying on procedural rationality describe models that treat diagnosis as a “natural artifact” by employing symbolic methods designed to simulate human problem‐solving. Research adhering to probabilistic rationality describes models that treat diagnosis as a “natural artifact” of an ecological image by utilizing sub‐symbolic methods designed to simulate neural networks. Research guided by situational rationality describes models that require treating diagnosis as a “socio‐cognitive artifact,” the artificiality of which is organized in discourses of patient‐centered decision‐making. The paper concludes with a commentary on the ethical application of AI in health and medicine, given the logical differences underlying diagnostic task performance.

THE PROBLEMS OF MODERNITY DUE TO THE CRISIS OF THE SPIRITUAL DIMENSION

The article examines what are the essential characteristics of a person and his activities, such as spirit and spirituality. It is determined that the concept of «spirt» has a twofold meaning - in the case of direct correlation with a person, we are talking about it as an immanently inherent rational will that ensures the desire for transformation oneself and the world. If we talk about activity, then the spirit acts as its idea, that is, as something that does not allow us to reduce activity to simple functionality. In connection with the revealed dual possibility of the orientation of the spirit, spirituality is defined as the orientation of a person to the highest values, which are usually referred to as good, truth, beauty, freedom and justice, that is, what defines humanity in a person.
 Due to the fact that the spirit, spirituality is something that escapes procedural rationality, in the modern super-pragmatic world, they believe that nothing will be lost if they get rid of such «useless» aspects of the person and his being. The article analyses whether this is the case. The possible consequences of further neutral or negative attitudes towards existential entities such as spirit and spirituality are evaluated. The problem is illustrated by John B. Calhoun's famous psychological experiment «Universe 25». By analogy, it turned out that the consumer society, stuck at the level of satisfaction of material needs, is fragmented and degenerates into a set of individuals who have lost the social and spiritual components of the human essence.

Shareholder heterogeneity, board dicisionmaking process and ambidextrous corporate innovation: evidence from China

PurposeShareholder heterogeneity reflects the interactive relationship between shareholder groups of different industries and ownership types. This paper aims to discuss the impact of shareholder heterogeneity on ambidextrous corporate innovation.Design/methodology/approachCombining questionnaire and database data, this study empirically analyzes the internal mechanisms of the impact of shareholder heterogeneity on ambidextrous corporate innovation.FindingsThe authors find that shareholder heterogeneity can promote ambidextrous corporate innovation and that board’s decision-making processes play an intermediary role. Specifically, shareholder industry-type heterogeneity promotes ambidextrous corporate innovation by improving procedural rationality in board’s decision-making process, and shareholder ownership-type heterogeneity promotes ambidextrous corporate innovation by improving political behavior in board’s decision-making process. The analysis of the impact degree shows that shareholder industry-type heterogeneity has a greater impact on exploitation innovation, while shareholder ownership-type heterogeneity has a greater impact on exploratory innovation. In addition, the research also shows that shareholder groups dominated by industry-type heterogeneity have an impact on corporate innovation by shaping an engaged board with higher procedural rationality and lower political behavior. Shareholder groups dominated by ownership-type heterogeneity have an impact on corporate innovation by shaping a contested board with higher political behavior and lower procedural rationality.Originality/valueThis study not only enriches the research on shareholder heterogeneity and corporate innovation in the context of transformation but also provides an analytical framework for research on board’s decision-making process.