Essence of Decision: Explaining the Cuban Missile Crisis - Book Report/Review Example

 “Essence of Decision: Explaining the Cuban Missile Crisis” Book Review “Essence of Decision” presents the dispute that public policy analyst personnel rely on an assortment of assumptions when they try to explicate governmental decision construction. Zelikow and Allison establish the previously inferred decision-making and power disbursement models. This occurs with the goal of highlighting the assumptions underlying such prospects and their implication on how persons make sense of their policy choices (Zelikow and Allison 265). The authors have sufficient evidence to support their arguments. They show diverse ways of evaluating and dissecting past events. Notably, by examining the occurrence of the Cuban missile crisis, Zelikow and Allison depict how different conceptual models are utilized to interpret events of the past: rational actor, government model and organizational behaviour. This helps the reader comprehend how these frameworks can influence our aptitudes in making decisions presently and in the future. Additionally, the authors offer tripartite critical analysis of the crisis, offering limitations associated with each model. It presents how persons can analyse decisions retrospectively with an inclusion of the three decision making theories that determine conclusion, beliefs and perceptions in the course of a decision making process. The explicit evidence and illustrations depict how succinct and concise their argument has been expressed. “The Essence of Decision”, undoubtedly, offers a scholar with a comprehensive tool in examining and analysing of public policy. Evidently, each model contains elements considered before in the arena of public policy. To aid the reader understand public policy more concisely, the authors delve deeply into the implications of notions and offers a means of analysing by utilizing the three models in togetherness (Zelikow and Allison 202). Utilization of the three models, apparently, offers a better understanding of any public policy. In terms of public policy, it succinct that the RAM model considers nations as unitary decision makers and that their practices are value maximizing, purposive and rational. Moreover, the book helps readers to understand public policy through such a model as the organizational behaviour. It states public policy actions are outputs of the numerous organizations that make a government, and each practices at its own discretion. Moreover, the third design explicates public policy actions as being the results of the opinionated prospects, idea sharing and power playing within the national administration. In addition, the publication by Zelikow and Allison explicates on the policy analysis process in depth. It depicts framing of policy quandaries by inculcation of the instance of the Cuban missile crisis. This event, itself, stands as a policy problem that policy the authors explicate on, with regard to the conceptual framework of three decision-making models. In policy analyses, the various decisions made by bureaucrats or administration are pertinent, and Zelikow and Allison focus on them (Zelikow and Allison 303). Besides, the basis for their conceptual models is a mixture of administration behaviour, social dynamics, the economic theory and group behaviours. The book expresses the viewpoints on how analysts’ assumptions express the policy analysis. Additionally, this publication aids readers to comprehend the evaluative criterion and imminence of alternative in the public policy making and analysis, as the three models depict. The authors support their arguments with various instances. At the core of his argument, Zelikow and Allison are trying to express the notion that each analyst observes policy decisions via a focus parameter, which is shaped by their intelligence interpretations, the government, its operations and key players. The initial model of policy analysis starts by constructing on the renowned decision-making model of rationality that figures such as Lindblom and March critically studied (March 54). Zelikow and Allison start with the rational actor model since they conceive that most policy choices or decisions that nations make are motivated by an initiative to accomplish an objective. In this model, analysts conceive nations as unitary and rational in their making of decisions to achieve a concise objective (Zelikow and Allison 266). Analysts who inculcate the organizational behaviour model assume that policy choices are the complete result of numerous outputs instead of a single rational decision by a principal leader. It begins with the assumption that administrations exist to express and communicate an immense assortment of matters. Resultantly, the government is naturally composed of numerous organizations that specialize in content along a huge spectrum (Zelikow and Allison 401). Eventually, with regard to the third conceptual model, the authors presume that both the initial and the second model are partially real. However, the most definite fact is that leaders who are highly ranked in organizations are key players in the competitive policy game. Analysts interpreting public policies through this model presuppose that decisions are the repercussion of political bargaining amongst key players, who operate with no unified prospect in mind but, rather, in accordance with their individual, national or organization goals. The authors make the point that virtually all analysts start with an assortment of assumptions when they approach their work. These frameworks illustrate how diverse assumptions display diverse information encompassing policy. The most comprehensive policy is that which reveres its dependence on assumptions and blends with the central assumptions of every model for a perfect analysis. Eventually, an understanding of the three conceptual models results into the best comprehension of how decisions are formed within the government. Works Cited March, James. A Primer on Decision Making. New York: The Free Press, 2009. Print. Zelikow, Philip and Graham Allison. Essence of Decision: Explaining the Cuban Missile Crisis (2nd Edition). New York: Longman, 1999. Print. Read More