Futures in Government

Yehezkel Dror

Expert InsightsPublished 1968

A suggestion that governmental decisionmaking techniques be reconstructed to include inputs from personnel trained to deal with the future. Current organizational attempts to deal concurrently with present and future problems are ineffectual, since present considerations often outweigh the future, with resources allocated to immediate needs. While the difficulties in problem solving multiply geometrically, the number of personnel trained in futuristics increases arithmetically. Immediate consideration to revamping patterns of governmental decisionmaking should include (1) special training for professional-level personnel and interested politicians in futuristics, (2) use of technical aids such as PPBS and scenarios, (3) interdepartmental consideration of alternatives, and (4) a requirement that all departmental recommendations specifically consider future implications.

Document Details

Citation

Chicago Manual of Style

Dror, Yehezkel, Futures in Government. Santa Monica, CA: RAND Corporation, 1968. https://www.rand.org/pubs/papers/P3909.html.
BibTeX RIS

This publication is part of the RAND paper series. The paper series was a product of RAND from 1948 to 2003 that captured speeches, memorials, and derivative research, usually prepared on authors' own time and meant to be the scholarly or scientific contribution of individual authors to their professional fields. Papers were less formal than reports and did not require rigorous peer review.

This document and trademark(s) contained herein are protected by law. This representation of RAND intellectual property is provided for noncommercial use only. Unauthorized posting of this publication online is prohibited; linking directly to this product page is encouraged. Permission is required from RAND to reproduce, or reuse in another form, any of its research documents for commercial purposes. For information on reprint and reuse permissions, please visit www.rand.org/pubs/permissions.

RAND is a nonprofit institution that helps improve policy and decisionmaking through research and analysis. RAND's publications do not necessarily reflect the opinions of its research clients and sponsors.