Decisionmaking

  • U.S. Marine Pfc. Garrett Reed watches over a bridge during a security patrol in Garmsir, Afghanistan, December 7, 2011

    Commentary

    The American Intellectual Property

    In a continued search for competitive advantage, the United States may be asking the wrong question. Perhaps the question should be how to most effectively cultivate what is inherent in Americans.

    Dec 19, 2017

  • Robots working in a factory

    Report

    The Risks of AI to Security and the Future of Work

    As artificial intelligence (AI) becomes more prevalent in the domains of security and employment, what are the policy implications? What effects might AI have on cybersecurity, criminal and civil justice, and labor market patterns?

    Dec 6, 2017

  • Soledad O’Brien, General Larry D. Welch, Elizabeth Sherwood-Randall, and Michael D. Rich at the One Night with RAND event at Hotel Casa del Mar in Santa Monica, California, November 9, 2017

    Blog

    Exploring Trust, Leadership, and 'Analytic Courage'

    Leaders in business, government, academia, and philanthropy gathered at RAND's headquarters in Santa Monica to pay tribute to the seven-decade relationship between RAND and the U.S. Air Force. Panelists discussed the importance of trusted advice to inform national security descisonmaking.

    Nov 15, 2017

  • Robots working with cardboard boxes on a conveyer belt

    Commentary

    AI's Promise and Risks

    Artificial intelligence seems to be advancing faster than efforts to understand its potential consequences, good and bad. And discussions about AI often veer toward extremes. More balanced, rigorous analysis is needed to help shape policies that mitigate AI's risks and maximize its benefits.

    Oct 24, 2017

  • Wargaming at the Naval Postgraduate School

    Commentary

    Adding Shots on Target: Wargaming Beyond the Game

    Figuring out what the future may look like—and what concepts and technology we should invest in now to prepare—is hard. How can the wargaming community build a cycle of research to help understand what these paths might be?

    Oct 9, 2017

  • Journal Article

    Journal Article

    Demonstrating the Applicability of a Robust Decision Making (RDM) to Conservation Decision-Making Under Uncertain Future Climate: Pilot Study Using the Northern Pygmy Salamander (Desmognathus Organi)

    This study suggests initial ideas for managing climate uncertainty in conservation planning. Differences with previous RDM applications include focus on finer scale geography and significantly more uncertainty in the system (species response) model.

    Oct 3, 2017

  • Report

    Report

    Understanding how organisations ensure that their decision making is fair

    The UK General Medical Council commissioned RAND Europe to investigate the tools, practices and processes used by organisations to support fair decision making in a regulatory context.

    Sep 20, 2017

  • A rescue boat evacuates people from the rising waters of Buffalo Bayou following Hurricane Harvey in a neighborhood west of Houston, Texas, August 30, 2017

    Commentary

    Rethinking Disaster Evacuation

    Before a storm hits, officials must decide whether to evacuate the public or advise them to shelter in place. Other, more targeted choices — such as sheltering in safer locations within a city — could be available if an analytic basis for making such judgments were fully developed.

    Sep 11, 2017

  • Floating ice and iceberg in Antarctic Peninsula

    Commentary

    When It Comes to Climate, Look for Vulnerabilities in Policy, Not Science

    Federal policymakers have picked up on the concept of red teaming — actively seeking out one's own vulnerabilities. While red teaming may not make sense for climate science, it does offer great benefits when weighing climate policy options.

    Aug 4, 2017

  • Journal Article

    Journal Article

    Advancing Alternative Analysis: Integration of Decision Science

    Incorporating decision science into alternatives analysis would help companies and regulators to select alternatives to environmentally harmful ingredients.

    Aug 1, 2017

  • New York City skyline with ships in the foreground

    Report

    Guide to the Resilience Dividend Valuation Model

    This guide provides an overview of and guidance on the Resilience Dividend Valuation Model, a framework designed to help policymakers and practitioners estimate the resilience dividend from projects they are considering or have implemented.

    Aug 1, 2017

  • vietnam, traffic, skyscraper, downtown, illuminated, market urban, panoramic panorama, commercial finance, asia, famous place, architecture, transportation, landscape scene, construction structure, exterior, street road, cityscape, bitexco, bridge, tourist destination, horizon, high landmark, nature, pollution, top roofs, modern tower, capital, metropolitan, sunset, financial economic, landmarks, dramatic, apartment building, real estate, ho chi minh city, indochina, prosperity, exotic, eastern, residential building, saigon river, down town, office blocks, thu thiem, sky line, skyline city, business centre, travel location, sun light, blue sky clouds, hang xanh, hangxanh overpass, van thanh park, saigon pearl, the vista, sunrise, thuthiem bridge

    Report

    Resilience Dividend Valuation Model: Framework Development and Initial Case Studies

    This report describes the development of the Resilience Dividend Valuation Model, a complementary framework designed to help communities estimate the resilience dividend from resilience projects or investment.

    Aug 1, 2017

  • Tool

    Tool

    Assessing Impact to Inform Decisions: A Toolkit on Measures for Policymakers

    This toolkit provides a very brief overview of how to identify concepts that should be measured by policymakers, how to evaluate measures, and how to identify new measures that can contribute to better-informed decisions, plans, and assessments.

    Jul 25, 2017

  • Parker Dam impounds Colorado River water into Lake Havasu, where it is pumped into the Colorado Aqueduct for delivery to Southern California, April 16, 2015.

    Commentary

    How Should Water Professionals Invest in Resilience?

    Water professionals can think about building resilience as a process of embracing and managing future uncertainty. Rather than trying to predict which problem to plan for, researchers help planners consider a wide range of potential scenarios.

    Jul 12, 2017

  • Aerial view of solar farm in central Texas

    Commentary

    Navigating the Uncertain Path to Decarbonization

    Deep decarbonization can reduce the risk of climate change, and it offers opportunities to reimagine energy, transportation, and infrastructure. But it could also fail in many ways. Diverse, independent actors need a shared understanding of its complexity and deep uncertainty to design a solution to this challenge.

    Jul 11, 2017

  • An intersection of gravel roads through a field

    Commentary

    America and the World Are at a Crossroads

    Populism is on the march across the globe. Many of the certainties of even the recent past seem much less certain now—including the idea of the United States maintaining a leadership role in the world.

    Jul 3, 2017

  • Report

    Report

    Enhancing Next-Generation Diplomacy Through Best Practices in Lessons Learned

    To help the Department of State mature its enterprisewide lessons-learned capabilities, this report explores best practices across fields of organizational theory and within both public and private organizations.

    Jun 21, 2017

  • Brochure

    Brochure

    Innovating for Answers: Social and Economic Policy Research at RAND

    This publication highlights recent RAND social and economic policy research projects that have produced important new policies, framed issues in new ways, balanced multiple priorities and difficult trade-offs, and prompted meaningful change.

    May 31, 2017

  • Young businessman in front of two roads crossroads

    Commentary

    Decision-Making Under Uncertain Climate Change: A Response, and an Invitation, to Bret Stephens

    It is difficult to determine what actions balance society's goals where there is deep uncertainty about the consequences. The decisionmaking under uncertainty methodology provides tools to acknowledge uncertainty, avoid overconfidence, promote deliberation, and help craft consensus on sensible approaches to climate change.

    May 9, 2017

  • The word truth in fading black paint

    Q&A

    How RAND Is Responding to Truth Decay

    RAND's Michael Rich and Jennifer Kavanagh explain what “Truth Decay” is and discuss how ongoing RAND research could help counter it.

    May 5, 2017