Introduction: the absurdity of bureaucracy

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nina Holm Vohnsen
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
Development Studies ◽  
Writing Style ◽  
Non Linear ◽  
Analytical Writing

The introduction lays out the book’s empirical interest (the repercussions of policy), the analytical focus (decision-making) and its theoretical aim (to theorize the non-linear aspect of implementation by addressing it through the lens of the absurd). This introduction firmly places the book in the fields of implementation and development studies, but does so by introducing a focus on all that is rejected, ignored and excluded from planning and bureaucratic decision-making. The introduction also provides a reflection on how best to write complexity and incoherency, and it develops the book’s primary analytical writing style inspired by photojournalism, more specifically environmental portraiture (Kobré 2008).

scholarly journals Is our perception of the spread of COVID-19 inherently inaccurate?

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alexander Maier
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
Subjective Perception ◽  
Logarithmic Function ◽  
Original Formulation ◽  
Global Crisis ◽  
New Information ◽  
The World ◽  
Non Linear ◽  
The Future ◽  
Linear Nature

One of the most fundamental insights into the nature of our subjective perception of the world around us is that it is not veridical. In other words, we tend to not perceive information about the world around us accurately. Instead, our brains interpret new information through a host of innate and learned mechanisms that can introduce bias and distortions One of the best studied mechanisms that guide – and distort – our perception is the psychophysical Weber-Fechner law. According to this empirically derived, mathematically formulated law we tend to put more emphasis on smaller deviations in size while underestimating larger changes. The original formulation of the Weber-Fechner law takes the shape of a logarithmic function and is commonly applied to somatosensory perception such as the weight of an object. However, later work showed that the Weber-Fechner law can be generalized and describe a large variety of perceived changes in magnitude that even go beyond the sensory domain. Here we investigate the hypothesis that our perception of data associated with the spread of COVID-19 and similar pandemics is governed by the same psychophysical laws. Based on several recently published studies, we demonstrate that the Weber-Fechner law can be shown to directly affect the decision-making of officials in response to this global crisis as well as the greater public at large. We discuss how heightened awareness of the non-linear nature of subjective perception could help alleviate problematic judgements in similar situations in the future.

The Effect of Fiscal Decentralization on Corruption: A Non-linear Hypothesis

2019 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
pp. 105-128 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maria Rosaria Alfano ◽  
Anna Laura Baraldi ◽  
Claudia Cantabene
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
Empirical Model ◽  
Fiscal Decentralization ◽  
Rent Seeking ◽  
Linear Hypothesis ◽  
Control Variables ◽  
Non Linear ◽  
Estimation Procedures ◽  
Local Politicians

Abstract This study advances the literature on the effect of decentralization on corruption by proposing a theoretical motivation for the hypothesis that the corruptionminimizing decentralization arrangement prescribes intermediate decentralization degrees: a ‘middle’ decision-making power of local governors may mitigate the tradeoff between the rent-seeking incentive for local politicians and the effectiveness of their voters’ monitoring. The estimation of a non-linear empirical model strongly confirms that a decentralization degree between 15% and 21% minimizes corruption even through different estimation procedures, introduction of control variables and the use of internal and external IV and of alternative decentralization and corruption measurements.

scholarly journals Self-authorship and creative industries workers’ career decision-making

2018 ◽  
Vol 71 (11) ◽  
pp. 1454-1477 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dawn Bennett ◽  
Sophie Hennekam
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
Sense Of Self ◽  
Career Decision ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Creative Industries ◽  
Career Decision Making ◽  
Multiple Selves ◽  
Non Linear ◽  
Career Calling ◽  
Self Authorship

Career decision-making is arguably at its most complex within professions where work is precarious and career calling is strong. This article reports from a study that examined the career decision-making of creative industries workers, for whom career decisions can impact psychological well-being and identity just as much as they impact individuals’ work and career. The respondents were 693 creative industries workers who used a largely open-ended survey to create in-depth reflections on formative moments and career decision-making. Analysis involved the theoretical model of self-authorship, which provides a way of understanding how people employ their sense of self to make meaning of their experiences. The self-authorship process emerged as a complex, non-linear and consistent feature of career decision-making. Theoretical contributions include a non-linear view of self-authorship that exposes the authorship of visible and covert multiple selves prompted by both proactive and reactive identity work.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document