Role of values in public decision-making: where is the fit?

Abstract

Involving citizens in public decision-making has become increasingly important over the last three decades. Distrust of government, academia, and big business; citizen activism; changing values and legislative requirements have converged to feed a growing demand from citizens to be involved. A dilemma arises when public managers try to communicate project plans with citizens using ‘rational’ models of problem-solving, where citizens express reactions to projects as judgments based on individual values. The fit of a project with one's values is the basis of most individual decision-making, and is at the heart of citizens' choice to become involved. Solving this dilemma involves moving outside limited rational models and entering the messy world of values.

Keywords:

• values
• decision-making
• citizen involvement