Tools for Decision Making: A Practical Guide for Local Government, Second Edition

Buy this book from the publisher, Sage Publications

Here is a helpful assortment of analytical tools to help local government officials make decisions daily in order to maximize efficiency and equity. Whether utilizing performance standards, making adjustments for inflation, or choosing to contract out a service, decision makers will use this book to employ field-tested techniques when dealing with politically charged situations.

"Tools for Decision Making is a very 'user-friendly' book that can be used in policy analysis or financial management courses in upper-division or graduate instruction. Ammons uses excellent examples that place tools in realistic and appropriate context for typical public administration students." — Howard Frank, Florida International University

"David Ammons' Tools for Decision Making gives readers a practical (and necessary) discussion of analytical techniques that are useful in real-life governmental decision making. Managers will find that these 'tools' provide a sound basis for making decisions under practical working conditions. Students will greatly benefit from it as well: learning how today's managers make quality decisions within short time frames, with limited resources is a crucial lesson. Further, in contrast to many books on similar topics, Tools for Decision Making is extremely readable and easy to understand." — Frank Fairbanks, City Manager, Phoenix, Arizona

"David Ammons has written a book that every public administration student and administrator should review. Tools for Decision Making is a goldmine of ideas for improving services. It makes difficult-sounding management techniques very understandable. I caution owners of the book to be leery of those who seek to borrow it; else it may go the same way as the trusty hammer and saw." — W. Bartley Hildreth, Wichita State University