Skip to main content

Decision-Making in the Political Environment

  • Chapter
Project Governance

Abstract

The focus of this chapter is on the political and administrative decision-making processes that are connected to deciding on major public projects. Large projects are, on the one hand, about systematic planning and technical processes, but on the other hand, they are also about how political and administrative actors decide on the projects, which makes the wider political-administrative context highly relevant. Processes related to major public projects may have features that are similar to many other types of public decision-making processes, but also reflect that large public investments mobilise particular political and administrative actors/stake-holders, problems and solutions. One can also expect variety in the way different decisions on large projects unfold in a democracy.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 84.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 109.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD 109.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

Preview

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

References

  • Boin, A. and Christensen, T., 2008. The Development of Public Institutions: Reconsidering the Role of Leadership. Administration & Society, 40 (3), pp. 271–97.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Boston, J., Martin, J., Pallot, J. and Walsh, P., 1996. Public Management: The New Zealand Model. Auckland: Oxford University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Brunsson, N., 1989. The Organization of Hypocrisy: Talk, Decisions and Actions in Organizations. Chichester: Wiley.

    Google Scholar 

  • Christensen, T., 2011. The Norwegian Front-End Governance of Major Public Projects: A Theoretically Based Analysis and Evaluation. International Journal of Management of Projects in Business, 4 (2), pp. 218–39.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Christensen, T. and Lægreid, P., 2001. New Public Management: The Transformation of Ideas and Practice. Aldershot: Ashgate.

    Google Scholar 

  • Christensen, T., Lægreid, P, Roness, P. G. and Røvik, K. A., 2007. Organization Theory and The Public Sector: Instrument, Culture and Myth. London and NY: Routledge.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Cohen, M. D., March, J. G. and Olsen, J. P., 1972. A Garbage Can Model of Organizational Choice. Administrative Science Quarterly, 17 (1), pp. 1–25.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cyert, R. M. and March, J. G., 1963. A Behavioral Theory of the Firm. Englewood Cliffs: Prentice-Hall.

    Google Scholar 

  • Dahl, R. A. and Lindblom, C. E., 1953. Politics, Economics, and Welfare. New York: Harper & Row.

    Google Scholar 

  • Egeberg, M., 2003. How Bureaucratic Structure Matters: An Organizational Perspective. In B. G. Peters and J. Pierre, eds, Handbook of public administration. London: Sage.

    Google Scholar 

  • Egeberg, M., 1997. Verdier i statsstyre og noen organisatoriske implikasjoner (Values in Government and Some Organizational Implications). In T. Christensen and M. Egeberg, eds, Forvaltningskunnskap (Public Administration). Oslo: Tano Aschehoug.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kingdon, J., 1984. Agendas, Alternatives, and Public Policies. Boston: Little, Brown.

    Google Scholar 

  • March, J. G., 1994. A Primer in Decision Making. New York: Free Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • March, J. G. and Olsen, J. P., 1976. Ambiguity and Choice in Organizations. Bergen: Universitetsforlaget.

    Google Scholar 

  • March, J. G. and Olsen, J. P., 1983. Organizing Political Life: What Administrative Reorganization Tells us about Government. American Political Science Review, 77, pp. 281–97.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • March, J. G. and Olsen, J. P., 1989. Rediscovering Institutions: The Organizational Basis of Politics. New York: The Free Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Meyer, J. W. and B. Rowan (1977). Institutionalized Organizations: Formal Structure as Myth and Ceremony. American Journal of Sociology, 83 (September), pp. 340–63.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mosher, F. ed., 1967. Governmental Reorganizations. Indianapolis: Bobbs-Merrill Company.

    Google Scholar 

  • Olsen, J. P., 1983. The Dilemmas of Organizational Integration in Government. In J. P. Olsen, Organized Democracy: Political Institutions in a Welfare State — the Case of Norway. Bergen: Universitetsforlaget.

    Google Scholar 

  • Peters, B.G., 2011. Institutional Theory in Political Science: The ‘New Institutionalism’. 3rd edn. London and New York: Continuum.

    Google Scholar 

  • Pollitt, C. and Bouckaert, G., 2011. Public Management Reform: A Comparative Analysis. 2nd edn. Oxford: Oxford University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sahlin-Andersson, K., 2001. National, International and Transnational Construction of New Public Management. In T. Christensen and P. Lægreid, eds, New Public Management: The Transformation of Ideas and Practice. Aldershot: Ashgate.

    Google Scholar 

  • Selznick, P., 1957. Leadership in Administration. New York: Harper & Row.

    Google Scholar 

  • Simon, H., 1957. Administrative Behaviour. New York: Macmillan.

    Google Scholar 

  • Whist, E. and Christensen, T., 2011. Political Control, Local Rationality and Complex Coalitions. Concept Report No 26. Trondheim: The Norwegian University of Science and Technology.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Authors

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

Copyright information

© 2012 Tom Christensen

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Christensen, T. (2012). Decision-Making in the Political Environment. In: Williams, T.M., Samset, K. (eds) Project Governance. Palgrave Macmillan, London. https://doi.org/10.1057/9781137274618_8

Download citation

Publish with us

Policies and ethics