Lindblom’s ‘rational–comprehensive’ ideal-type model of the
policy-making process may help clarify this issue. Lindblom (1959)
considers how decision makers would proceed if they did so in a
completely logical and rational manner (Box 8.3). This then serves as
a benchmark or standard of comparison against which to compare
actual processes of decision making. This model is very similar to the
economists’ model of individual consumer choice.
BOX 8.3 A RATIONAL–COMPREHENSIVE MODEL OF
DECISION MAKING
If such an approach to decision making is treated as the paradigm
for making public policy, then it is clear that few actual policy deci-
sions are made in accordance with it. Some attempt has been made to
apply such a systematic and rational method of policy decision
making by employing the technique of cost benefit analysis (CBA)
on, for instance, the decision as to where to build a fourth London
airport. CBA, basically an attempt to put monetary figures on the
costs and benefits accruing from an investment over time, is more
widely used by strategic planners in business situations. As that
example shows, however, there are problems in both establishing an
agreed ranking of values and in measuring and predicting outcomes
as far as most public policy decisions are concerned. Some of these
difficulties derive from the fact that the model is implicitly based on
how oneindividual decision maker would approach a problem. In
practice virtually all public policy decisions are made by organisa-
tions, only some of which even claim to be ‘bureaucratic’ (in Weber’s
POLICIES 2191 Define and rank values.
2 Specify objectivescompatible with these.
3 Identify all relevant optionsor means of achieving these objectives.
4 Calculate all the consequencesof these options and compare them.
5 Choose the option or combination of options which could maximise
the highest ranked values.
(After Lindblom, 1959)