Reaching decisions about technological projects with social consequences: A normative model

Among the crises facing our society is the public's loss of confidence in technical professionals and their ability to make decisions about large-scale projects (such as highways) in the public interest. To overcome this crisis of confidence, this paper hypothesizes a model for the role of the technical professional in the process of reaching decisions about public actions.In evaluating technological projects with social consequences, one key issue is the differential incidence of impacts. Typically, some groups are hurt in order that others may benefit. Social equity must be considered explicitly. Such presently-used techniques as benefit-cost analysis and point-rating schemes are unsatisfactory. New techniques are needed, reflecting a more comprehensive model for the role of the technical team in the political process.A normative model is outlined. First, the objective of the technical process is defined: to achieve substantial effective community agreement on a course of action which is feasible, equitable, and desirable. Second, a process for achieving this objective is proposed. A key element of this process is a four-phase strategy of technical and community interaction activities to achieve the objective. The basic premise of this approach is that the role of the technical team is to clarify the issues of choice, to assist the community in determining what is best for itself.This theoretical model has resulted in several practical products. A procedural guide for use by highway and transportation agencies has been prepared, and a number of specific operational techniques have been developed and are included in the guide. The procedural guide is now being field-tested in several state highway departments. The theoretical model has already been useful in identifying, in one highway department, opportunities for significant changes in the agency's mission, organization and procedures to enable it to be more responsive to public concerns. The theoretical model also has served as the basis for the development of federal guidelines for consideration of social, economic and environmental factors in highway planning and decision-making, in all of the state highway departments in the U.S.This is a revised version of a paper presented to the Seventeenth North American Meeting, Regional Science Association, November 6–8, 1970.