Brain‐supporting environments for decision making in complex systems

This paper aims to address the issue of modeling and model‐based management from a psycho‐ and sociological perspective, showing that the requisite decision‐making models are a necessary but not sufficient condition for taking the right decisions. To overcome this lack of a physical space, a “brain‐supporting environment” is proposed to support group decision making in complex situations.

Following the interdisciplinary character of management problems, findings from different fields are used to derive requirements for complex problem solving.

Procedural, structural and technological measures are proposed to debias individual and group decision making. Finally, a “brain‐supporting environment” is sketched in which humans, as well as humans and machines, interact in order to arrive at better decisions.

The paper points out ways that today's technologies can be used to enhance the ability to manage complexity and to prepare the management of organizations for the challenges of the twenty‐first century.

The paper contributes to the management of complex systems by integrating findings from different scientific disciplines in a comprehensive approach to support decision making.