Computer Aided Policy Making

Description

The imperfections of traditional approaches to policy-making, the analytical tradition and the design tradition are increasingly evident as society becomes more complex. Ray Wyatt argues that the software route offers policy-makers a better alternative. The software considered is exclusively analytical, addressing the pivotal act of policymaking: deciding what to do in the future. Ingeniously Wyatt has created 'two books in one' while the main text describes the types of software package available (Chapters 2 to 4) with a detailed examination of four particular packages (Chapters 6 to 8), throughout the lessons generated from the software are outlined in lesson boxes. Readers can use the text alone to familiarize themselves with the computer packages or read the boxes only and so learn the lessons which the packages convey - or both. For anyone seeking to make better human-oriented policy, whether urban planner, business strategist, or manager in the field of education, health or welfare, this book will prove a unique source of information and instruction.

Ray Wyatt teaches Applied Artificial Intelligence in the Geography department at the University of Melbourne. He has extensive experience as a Strategic Planner in both the public and private sectors.