A study was conducted to determine whether there are any differences in the rationality with which the various Federal natural resource agencies conduct their resource allocation processes and whether any differences can be explained. The study also investigates which criteria are used by the agencies in choosing among programs and projects. The study methodology included literature research, personal interviews with agency planning staffs, mailed questionnaires to agency managers, and analysis of data. / The study has researched the decision environment in the agencies, collected background information on the decision-makers and the decision processes and has collected considerable expert opinion on descriptive and prescriptive aspects of resource allocation practices. / The study has shown that each of the seven agencies studied try to conduct a rational, benefit-maximizing process in allocating their available funds. The study also has demonstrated that the level of rationality obtained by the agencies is quite variable and that there are statistically significant differences. / The differences in rationality are found to be best explained by the existence and effectiveness of management systems staff. Also of importance in explaining differences are: (1) centralization of policy decisions and planning and implementation of programs--a negative correlation, and (2) agency size. Other factors that may contribute to explaining different rationality levels are: (1) attitudes towards the importance of goal and objective setting, planning, and correctly choosing among projects, (2) the turnover of staffing, (3) the availability of time for resource allocation decision-making, and (4) the quality of information for supporting decision-making. / The agencies were found to use resource allocation criteria in formal or informal processes during decision-making. The criteria have a high commonality of level of importance in the agencies. The importance attached to the criteria is closely linked to the quality of information about the criteria. / The study has been able to support the development of several normative statements which can be used by Federal natural resource agencies in improving their resource allocation processes. The study has made important contributions to descriptive and prescriptive resource allocation theory and to the agencies participating in this study. / Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 42-01, Section: A, page: 0286. / Thesis (D.B.A.)--The Florida State University, 1981.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:fsu.edu/oai:fsu.digital.flvc.org:fsu_74384 |
| Contributors | EVERETT, JOHN THOMAS., Florida State University |
| Source Sets | Florida State University |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Text |
| Format | 321 p. |
| Rights | On campus use only. |
| Relation | Dissertation Abstracts International |
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