Designs for environmental scanning systems: tests of a contingency theory

Article Abstract:

The relationships between organizational context and the designs of environmental scanning systems for organizations with effective and ineffective scanning systems were investigated. Data were collected from questionnaires completed by 179 North American companies listed in the Planning Forum membership directory. The variables relating to scanning system design and effectiveness measured by the study were scanning scope, scanning frequency, top management team scanning responsibility and scanning system effectiveness. Measures of organizational context were environmental change, organizational size, inflexibility of technology and low-cost orientation. Results showed that organizations having effective scanning systems suited their scanning designs with the requirements of their context. Organizations with ineffective scanning systems were not able to align scanning design and organizational context.

Research, Design and construction, Organizational effectiveness, Scanning devices, Optical scanners

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A maximum decisional efficiency estimation principle

Article Abstract:

A parameter estimation principle is presented that is applicable to data generated by more than one decision maker. These data have to be real or estimates of optimal decisions. The Maximum Decisional Efficiency (MDE) approach is based on the assumption that the right structure of the model is identified up to an undefined parameter vector. The MDE principle is compared to the Maximum Likelihood principle. They are found to be similar and even equal under certain assumptions regarding the distribution of decision maker performance. The principle is applied to a group ideal point estimation problem and to a case in which each decision maker makes more than one decision. The exercise provides face vadility for MDE.

Models, Estimation theory, Decision theory

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