Herbert Simon (theorist of public administration)

Herbert Simon was a influential thinker in public administration and decision-making. He introduced the idea that organizations and individuals do not always have complete information or perfect plans, but instead make "satisficing" choices—meaning they seek solutions that are good enough given their limited knowledge and resources. Simon emphasized that decision-making is a process of simplifying complex problems through heuristics, or mental shortcuts. His work helped shape understanding of how organizations operate efficiently under real-world constraints, highlighting the importance of realistic strategies and bounded rationality in public administration and management.