Judgment Calls

The 12 case studies offered in this book are designed to show readers that good decision making is less about lone individuals "making the call" than about the smart use of available resources and working together. Dividing the book into four sections of three studies each, Davenport (information technology & management, Babson Coll.; coauthor, Competing on Analytics: The New Science of Winning) and Manville (coauthor, A Company of Citizens: What the World's First Democracy Teaches Leaders About Creating Great Organizations) make their case for involving more people in decision deliberation. They cite participative problem solving, the use of technology and analytics, and leveraging the power of corporate cultures and context as ways to avoid outdated, dictatorial leadership. Investment management company Vanguard, for instance, provided a culture in which an analyst could question the safety of subprime bond investments.