Multiple Perspective Approach to Decision Making

Multiple Perspectives Approach to Decision Making is an attempt to sweep in

all possible perspectives on a problem. It classifies perspectives as either technical,
organizational or individual in nature. Apart from them ethical and aesthetic perspectives
are also kept in mind. The proponents of this theory are Harold A. Linston and Ian
Mitroff.
Multiple Perspectives Approach to Decision Making is based on Churchmans
concept of System Thinking. According to system approach a holistic, or whole system
approach is considerably better suited to the kinds of complex organizations we usually
encounter today. The system approach represents synthesis-thinking with an integrated
perspective about the whole enterprise. But before synthesizing one must first analyze, to
take the system apart in order to understand each component separately, and then
integrating them into a larger whole.
In order to arrive at a decision the problem should be seen from diverse
perspectives and the opinion of different role-players and stakeholders should be sought
for. It suggests that a scenario exists in a particular context but it is related with all other
components of an organization. Therefore looking from a multiple perspective identifies
the context of the decision-making scenario, that is whether it is of a technical,
organizational or individual nature. Since every component of the organization has an
effect on the other components of the system, they exist in the form of an integrated
system, so the decision is considered in a holistic perspective in order to integrate it with
all the other components of the system. And seeking the perspectives of different role-

players and stakeholder, who have different opinions even approaching from the same
perspective, making the sensing of the decision making scenario clearer and the decision
more comprehensive and composite. Schools are complex organizations. School leaders
are supposed to arrive on decision which satisfy all the dimensions of an organizational
system.
Biographies of the Proponents
Harold A. Linstone. Dr. Linstone earned his M.A. and Ph.D. degrees in Mathematics
from Columbia University and the University of Southern California, respectively. He
now holds the rank of University Professor Emeritus of Systems Science at Portland State
University, where he has served as director of its Systems Science Ph.D. Program and
Futures Research Institute. Harold Linstone is editor-in-chief of the professional journal
Technological Forecasting and Social Change , which he founded in 1969, and which is
now in its 56th volume. His books include:
The Delphi Method (Addison-Wesley 1975, co-editor),
Futures Research: New Directions (Addison-Wesley 1976, co-editor)
Technological Substitution (Elsevier 1977, co-editor)
Multiple Perspectives for Decision Making (Elsevier 1984, author)
The Unbounded Mind (Oxford University Press 1993, co-author)
The Challenge of the 21st Century (State University of New York Press 1994,
co-author)
Ian Mitroff. Dr. Mitroff is Professor Emeritus at the USC Marshall School of Business at
the University of Southern California, an Adjunct Professor at Saybrook University, San

Francisco, and an Adjunct Professor in the School of Public Health at St. Louis
University. He is also a Senior Investigator at the Center for Catastrophic Risk
Management at the University of California, Berkeley, and a member of the Board of
Scientific Counselors for the Office of Public Health Preparedness and Response at the
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, U.S. Department of Health and Human
Services. He is the president and founder of Mitroff Crisis Management. Dr. Ian Mitroff
is an internationally recognized crisis management expert and widely regarded as the
founder of the discipline of crisis management.
Scenario
A Higher Secondary School principal wants to ensure the attendance of the
students which is less than thirty percent the whole academic year for five years. The
principal has in front of him the history of such an attempt which ended up in the forced
resignation of the previous principal, after an agitation by the students and the
involvement of the community.
Applying Multiple Perspective Approach. There are more than one technical opinions
on the problem: firstly, the students who do meet the required standard of attendance
should be rusticated; secondly, they should not be allowed to sit in examination; thirdly,
the city administration should be taken into confidence on the issue and in case of any
agitation it should be kept responsible for normalizing the situation. From organizational
perspective individuals have their different opinions. Being members of the organization
of a school the students should be included in decision how to ensure their attendance.
The other opinion is to investigate the causes of the absenteeism. Third opinion may be to

create productive and collaborative relations with the organizations environment, the
parents, administration and the community in general, and in this way include them in
efforts to ensure students attendance. From ethical perspective the scenario would be
seen at as not to violate the law and at the same time keep the school accountable for
pushing students into this irresponsible attitude regarding their education and therefore
come up with a judicious decision. From the individual perspective the principal would
see not to loose his integrity as the executive of the organization. There is an aesthetic
dimension too and that is to maintain the decorum of the school as an educational
institution and an academic organization.
References
Dettmer, H. W. (2011). Systems thinking and the cynefin frameworkA strategic
approach to managing complex systems. Port Angeles, WA: Goal Systems
International.
Snowden, D. J., & Boone, M. E. (2007). A leader's framework for decision making.
harvard business review, 85(11), 68.
Turpin, S. M., & Marais, M. A. (2006). Decision-making: Theory and practice. ORiON:
The Journal of ORSSA, 20(2), 143-160.
http://www.isss.org/offlins.html
http://mitroff.net