Papers

High‐level decisions: A lesson from the Iran hostage rescue operation

Author(s)
Thomas Saaty
Joseph M. Katz Graduate School of Business
University of Pittsburgh
United States
Luis Vargas
Joseph M. Katz Graduate School of Business
University of Pittsburgh
United States
Amos Barzilay
Joseph M. Katz Graduate School of Business
University of Pittsburgh
United States

Publication date: Apr, 1982

Vol.: 13- Issue: 2- Pages: 185-206

Abstract: We use the analytic hierarchy process to analyze the role of subjective factors in decision making as illustrated in the Iran rescue operation. Essentially, we show that a decision maker and that decision maker's advisors may differ in their estimates on whether an action should or should not be taken depending on what intangible factors the leader holds as personally important, factors that the others would not necessarily include in their thinking‐a serious point for which we provide a particularly effective methodology.

Keywords: Analytic Hierarchy Process, AHP, Decision making, Intangibles

URL: https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1540-5915.1982.tb00142.x