the Garbage Can Model of Decision Making

The Garbage Can Model of Decision Making suggests that organizations often make decisions in a more random and less structured way than traditional models imply. Instead of a clear, rational process, choices result from the mix of problems, solutions, participants, and opportunities that are all "mixed together," like items in a garbage can. When these elements happen to connect—such as a solution matching a problem at a particular moment—a decision is made. This model reflects the complexity and unpredictability of decision processes in organizations, emphasizing that decisions can be somewhat coincidental rather than always systematic.