Tools for Decision Making: A Practical Guide for Local Government
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Book Overview
Known for encouraging step-by-step problem solving and for connecting techniques to real-world scenarios, David Ammons' Tools for Decision Making covers a wide range of local government practices--from the foundational to the advanced. Brief and readable, each chapter opens with a problem in a hypothetical city and then introduces a tool to address it. Thoroughly updated with new local government examples, the second edition also incorporates chapters devoted to such additional techniques as sampling analysis, sensitivity analysis, financial condition analysis, and forecasting via trend analysis. Numerous tables, figures, exhibits, equations, and worksheets walk readers through the application of tools, and boxed features throughout each chapter present other uses for techniques, helpful online resources, and common errors. A handy guide for students and an invaluable resource and reference for practitioners.
Format:Paperback
Language:English
ISBN:0872895971
ISBN13:9780872895973
Release Date:October 2008
Publisher:CQ Press
Length:293 Pages
Weight:1.10 lbs.
Dimensions:0.7" x 6.0" x 8.9"
Customer Reviews
1 rating
Useful guide for local government
Published by Thriftbooks.com User , 15 years ago
This is a useful little book that is designed to provide tools for decision making at the local government level. The Preface describes the focus of the book as "a guide to practical techniques of analysis for local government." The author, David Ammons, is a realist. He recognizes that politics can trump analysis, so that event use of these tools will not prevent politics from determining decisions. For instance, at the close of the book, he notes that "Local government decision makers must contend with multiple and often conflicting objectives." There is a nice table at the outset of the book, showing different analytical techniques available for local decision making. Throughout the book, a series of these are discussed in readable language. Among these? Demand analysis, PERT, performance standards, figuring interest rates and yields, cost-effectiveness analysis, analyzing survey data, benchmarking, and so on. All in all, a rather straightforward handbook. Much of the discussion is at only an introductory level, but that is not inappropriate given the book's purpose. On the other hand some of the discussion may be slow going for local officials. Bottom line: a useful little book.
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