What factors influence the acceptance of decision aids in organizations?

Abstract

This study considers what factors influence whether decision-makers in an organization will accept a decision aid. Specifically, the study considered the information gathering and planning systems used to support resource allocation decisions in a higher education college. The main finding was that the aid was accepted due to the college’s ability to sustain an earlier pattern of resource allocation. Also the external funding process left the college with limited choice in how it organized its internal procedures. This combination of an external constraint and the ability to sustain an existing set of choices led to differences of opinion being played down and, as a result, the decision aid continuing to be used despite disagreement with both its structure and the resultant resource allocation.