AN ANALYSIS OF THE CONTRIBUTION OF HERBERT SIMON

THE ORGANIZATIONAL THEORIES

Summary
Studies by Herbert A. Simon in the field of organizational theory had as
main motivation concern about real human behavior along the
organizations. Among his major contributions in the organizational field, to which
earned greater recognition was defending the thesis of bounded rationality. Given
the
relevance of the work of Simon, the purpose of this article is to map the
contributions
more important this author in organizational studies. To achieve the
proposed goal, we proceeded to an analysis of his publications, which totaled
approximately 845 original works (including articles and books), published
between 1937
to February 2001. Besides this study and reflection on the major publications
author, we conducted a content analysis of the titles of their publications, seeking
identify the trajectory of topics of interest to Simon. The results
indicated that, even presenting a multidisciplinary, research by Simon
were guided by a fundamental concern: to seek a better understanding of the real
human behavior in decision-making and problem solving

within organizations.
Keywords: Herbert A. Simon; Organizational Theories; Bounded Rationality;
Behavioral Theory; Decision Making.
1 Introduction
The administration in the social sciences has been recognized mainly
the contribution of thinkers who, through tireless research and studies,
improved understanding of organizational phenomena. Many of these researchers
absolute truths challenged and fought against prevailing currents, with the ideal of
bringing
organizational studies to a much more reliable real environment
organizational.
One of these thinkers was Herbert A. Simon, who had recognized its importance
in the field of organizational studies from the significant relevance of their theses.
His greatest recognition came from the refutation of some of the basic assumptions
neoclassical economics, a fact that earned him the Nobel Prize in Economics in
1978. More
specifically, in the area of management studies, Simon is known as the father of
behaviorism.
The purpose of this article is to map and retrieve the key contributions of

Simon in the context of organizational studies. However, it is worth noting that the
importance
his work transcends the boundaries of the social sciences, creating impact in
several
areas of scientific knowledge.
To achieve the goal proposed here, we carried out a comprehensive analysis of its
publications, totaling approximately 845 original works (including articles and
books)
published from 1937 to February 2001. The search strategy used
consisted of two stages: the first included a study of the major publications of the
author
and the second consisted of a content analysis of the titles of all your
original publications.
The text is structured as follows: section 2, will be presented
main concerns and contributions of Simon for the various areas of knowledge;
in section 3, we present the results of the analysis of their publications, and finally
in
section 4, some concluding remarks will be given.
2 Concerns and Contributions to Organizational Theory
Simon studies have traversed the fields of economics, psychology,

administration, philosophy and computer science. It is noted, however, that all

Your line of thinking is focused on understanding and decision-making process
problem solving in organizations. For over 40 years, Simon used
intensively the computer as a tool, especially for the simulation of
human thought through artificial intelligence systems.
This section will examine major concerns and contributions of Simon
the diverse perspectives of organizational theory. Importantly, their incursions
in economics, computer science and psychology occurred to better understand
the actual behavior of individuals in decision making and problem solving
organizations together.
2.1 The central thesis of the studies of Simon
In 1947, with the publication of Admininistrative behavior, Simon promotes the
theory
administrative behavior. His ideas mark a new era in social science,
whose focus of attention falls on concern about human behavior in the process
decision-making and problem-solving organization. His theory z fa strong
criticism of some of the basic principles of neoclassical economics and
administration
classic.
One should draw attention to the fact that, from a young age, Simon preocupavase

with human behavior in decision-making in organizations.

Since the first studies in 1936, the undergraduate political science
University of Chicago, focused on this theme.
In the early period of his work at Carnegie Institute of Technology in 1949
sought, along with other researchers, studying the resolution process
problems in organizations. Simon (1978) states the need for more adequate theories
on solving problems for people in the organizational field. By 1954,
defended the idea that the most appropriate way to study the problem solving was
simulate this situation with computer programs. Gradually, the simulation of
human cognition has become one of their topics of interest in research.
Given this vision Simom preliminary work, it is likely that the reader is
reflecting on the following questions: what would a researcher to spend more
60 years studying how humans solve problems and make decisions?
These issues deserve such an interest in the organizational? To elucidate such
questions, we must understand what the motivation inherent concern for Simon
with such issues. For him, these are central issues in organizational studies since
the
work of managers, scientists, engineers, lawyers - in short, the work that
guide the course of society and its economic and governmental organizations - is
working,

largely problem-solving and decision-making. This involves: a) choose

matters requiring the establishment of goals, b) designing courses of action
satisfactory
and c) evaluate and choose among alternative actions. The first of these three
activities
is usually called problem solving, and the third is called making
decision (Simon, 1986).
Before Barnard, with the publication of The functions of the executive in 1938, and
Simon,
with the publication of Administrative Behavior in 1947, had been given little
importance to the process of decision making. So while the entire organization is
permeated by decisions and actions, dispensed a greater attention to the latter than
the former.
Behaviorism fills this theoretical gap, emphasizing the process of making
decision, which considers central activity of management.
The decision process involves the selection of certain conscious or unconscious
actions between those that are physically possible for the agent and for those on
which he has influence and authority. So there are a large number of shares
alternatives which are reduced by the individual to what is actually taken
effect.

Simon says the administrator, and make decisions in the best way
possible, you should ensure that everyone in your organization to also take
effectively. According to the author, the last 40 years, the techniques of decision
making
have advanced considerably depending on the development of a large number of
tools - in particular, the tools of operations research, science
management technologies and expert systems (Simon, 1987).
Worried about providing knowledge the decision maker, Simon grants
special attention to computer information systems. For the author, historically,
information was a scarce factor in the decision-making process, but at the moment
current, are being made available large amounts of information and this provided
a lack of time for people to process this information. Consequently, the process of
information requires computational systems (expert systems or intelligence
artificial) that allow the process to work efficiently informational (Simon, 1998).
These systems provide each member of the group a substantial part of
information, assumptions, goals and attitudes that are part of the process
decision. It should be noted that the importance given to information systems can
be
related to the concept that, according to Simon, defines the organization: complex
communications system and inter-relationships that exist in a human group

(Simon, 1947).
2.2 Contribution of Simon to Economics
Simon won the Nobel Prize in Economics for helping to "push" the economy
conventional theory of supply and demand to the complexity of the real world of
psychology and
behavioral science. He introduced the theory of bounded rationality, in which
contrasted the classical view that administrators always make decisions that
maximize profits and that individuals always make the best choice among several
alternatives. Simon noted that information processing is limited by the people
and generally seek to a satisfactory approximation of the results (March and
Simon,
1958).
Lambasting the economy, Simon (1999, p. 94) argues as follows:
"People should consider that decision makers possess skills
Limited to evaluate all possible alternatives of a decision, as well as handle
the uncertain consequences of its decision. One theory, to come into existence,
should
be firmly based on knowledge about the process of decision making and current
real human beings. The lesson that the economy is just beginning to learn is that
a theory can not be built in the comfort of an armchair without foundations

Empirical strong. If we relied on a Popperian view that the function of evidence

contest is incorrect theories, then we can give the neoclassical economics, without
delay, a
verdict of proven failure. "
Following his critique of classical economics Nobel in his text, Simon (1979, p.
500) notes:
"We have seen that the classical theory always leads to the same conclusions and
that
principles of perfect rationality are contrary to the facts that actually occur in
actual process of decision making. We now understand much of the mechanism of
choice
rational human. We know how the system works in information processing
called man, given the complexity. Besides his perception, ability to use
process information to look for alternatives to calculate consequences, to resolve
uncertainties and thus - sometimes, not always - find the way of action
is sufficiently satisfactory. "
It is observed then that the "administrative man" promoted by Simon in
replacing the "economic man" of classical theory is limited in the knowledge of all
alternatives and unable to establish criteria to optimize their decisions, so
seeks to make decisions that meet the minimum standards of satisfaction and never

optimization. In his view, Simon argues that an alternative is good only if: (1)
A set of criteria that enable all alternatives are compared and
(2) the alternative is chosen according to these criteria. Moreover, an alternative is
satisfactory when: (1) there is a set of criteria that describes a minimum
satisfaction of the alternatives and (2) the chosen alternative meets these criteria
(March and
Simon, 1958).
2.3 Contribution to Administrative Theories
In his book Administrative behavior, Simon makes some harsh criticism of the
theory
classical management, especially with regard to administrative principles.
According to the author, most known principles of administration are as
sayings, i.e., in pairs and for each principle, there is another which is
contradictory. Simon also indicates that studies suffer from administrative
superficiality, oversimplification and lack of objectivity. He argues that a
generally has been left out of studying the actual location of decision-making
functions,
content to speak of terms like authority, centralization, span of control and
function without trying, however, to define them operationally.
The author cites, for example, the case of mismatch principle

specialization with the principle of the control unit, both being presented
Originally by Fayol in 1916. If the decisions of an individual at any point in
administrative hierarchy, always subject to the influence of a single channel
authority (control unit) requires a broader knowledge about the
organization, which is restricted by the principle of specialization.
Another criticism made by Simon is in relation to the appearance of authority, too
emphasized the aspect of persuasion and arbitrariness by the authors of the theory
classic. Simon (1947) has the authority as one of various ways of influencing the
behavior of individuals, and its main feature persuasion and
agreement of the subordinate.
For Simon (1947), the social sciences suffered from acute schizophrenia,
especially in relation to the importance given to rationality. At one extreme,
were economists who attributed the rational economic man an omniscience
absurd, and other extreme would be the trends of social psychology, that reduced
the
knowledge of and affection showed that people are not as rational as
think.
With the proposition of behavioral theory addressing aspects of rational ity
Limited, Simon sought a balance between the two previous approaches based on

premise that, in fact, human behavior is intentional, although

boundedly rational. At this point, there are the greatest possibilities for
development of a genuine theory of organization and administration (Simon,
1947).
Referring to the field of general theory of administration, Simon emphasizes that
administrative theory is, in essence, the theory of purposive rationality and limited
behavior of humans seeking behaviors satisfactory. Furthermore,
says that the main concern of management theory lies at the boundary between the
rational and irrational aspects of human social behavior (Simon, 1947).
Incursion 2.4 of Simon in Computational Science
Interviewed by Doug Stewart about his relationship with computer science,
Simon (1994, p. 3) responds:
"I had contact with computers early on when they were invented, and they me
fascinated. Computers are able to manipulate symbol and it seemed to me very
with thought. The idea that they could be used in solving problems
general purposes, fell as a 'trovo'para me. "
For Simon, the computer is the most important technology that emerged from the
machine
steam, perhaps since the invention of writing. Emphasizes that all computer
scientists

should have a responsibility to think deeply about the implications and

features of this technology to the wider community.
Due to the increase in computing resources (hardware and software), Simon
makes use of artificial intelligence systems, both to understand how to increase
capacity of human thought - extend the boundary of limited rations ity. Those
technologies have been used extensively in psychology to simulate the cognitive
process
human. Now also have been used in facing problems of philosophy of nature
human knowledge.
Thus, it is believed that the skills that determine the quality of decision
decision making and problem solving, and are stored in people's minds,
can be stored on machines and, especially today, these machines are called
Computer (Simon, 1987).
Simon also has used computer technology to apply their techniques
operational research in modeling complex systems. For the author, the modeling is
main - perhaps the first - technique to study the behavior of systems
complex, being used to predict, analyze and prescribe something about these
systems
(Simon, 1990).
What becomes evident is that the most recent research interest for Simon

in the field of computer science rested on the following topics: intelligence

Artificial human-computer interaction, information processing systems, use of
computers in the study (modeling) of philosophical problems relating to
intelligence and
epistemology, social impact assessment of computer technology on people and
organizations. However, all these studies attempt to examine the issue of how
humans make decisions and solve organizational problems.
05.02 Simon and behaviorism
The doctoral research of Simon on decision making in organizations - and
later, on administrative behavior - led him to the field of psychology.
According to the author, in the mid 50's, his research interest was greater
use computer simulations to develop theories of human behavior
(Simon, 1960).
Cognitive psychology has built and tested empirical models similar to
how humans solve problems. Many of these models take the form
computer programs that simulate human behavior. The top searches
Recent Simon, together with other researchers, show how the central focus
construction of computer programs that can learn new skills through
examining real examples of problem solving by individuals.

For Simon, much of the research in cognitive science aimed

understand how intelligent systems perform the work. Only in the last five
years, attention turns to the question of how systems are intelligent - as they
learn. Learning is crucial for adaptation in environments
constant change. Therefore, any research on decision-making that includes
adaptation
and learning would be welcome (Simon, 1987).
Currently, one of the important goals of basic scientific research is to understand
how the human mind, with or without the use of the computer, solves problems and
makes decisions. Psychology, economics, statistics, mathematics, research
operational, political science, management science, artificial intelligence and
science
had significant gains in cognitive research, especially in the last century by
seek to understand how humans solve problems and make decisions (Simon,
1987).
Another concentration of research for Simon, more focused questions
epistemological, was the study of the process of scientific discovery. This research
sought to examine in depth evidence (laboratory records, papers published,
books, etc.). occurred as of great scientific discoveries throughout history
humanity. Thus, there would be the possibility of building a simulation

these computational processes and subsequently conducting experiments in

laboratory
about the behavior of individuals in the processes of scientific discovery. To
perform
such research, it has been necessary to develop new modeling languages
and new computational techniques to collect empirical data (Kulkarni and Simon,
1988).
3 The Trajectory of Research and Publications of Simon
To better understand the research trajectory of Simon in studies
organizational as well as an extensive study and reflection of its major
publications,
became necessary further analysis in order to cover their total
publications. Therefore, we followed the following steps: a) access of references
all publications of Simon, available on its official website
(Http://psy.cmu.edu/psy/faculty/hsimon/hsimon:html), b) selection of original titles
its publications, totaling a total of 845 titles (in English and some co-authored)
published in the period between 1937 (Simon 21 years old and recently graduated
in political science from the University of Chicago) to February 2001 (Simon, now
84 years old, was in full activity of research and teaching at Carnegie-Mellon

University), c) with the aid of statistical software SPHINX, we proceeded to an

analysis
lexical in 845 securities, seeking to identify the frequency of keywords. It should
be
considers that this analysis showed strong limitations, especially for being held
only in the titles of publications, yet became useful to demonstrate the main
topics of interest to Simon during its 60 years of research and publications.
The following (Figure 1) shows the results of lexical analysis of 845
bonds, thus allowing to identify the frequency of keywords in the titles of
publications (the number in parentheses indicates the frequency of the word in the
titles).
Figure 1. Frequency of keywords in the titles of publications of Simon.
In view of this result and in conjunction with the study in his major works, work
must
make some comments on the frequency of keywords and what they
represented in the trajectory of research and studies of Simon.
Science (61); theory (58); scientific (33); administration / administrativ and (29):
the high
frequency of these keywords denoting the constant concern of Simon in his
research with the proposition, analysis and theory development. Such words

also indicate attention to the scientific aspects of their studies,

predominantly in the field of management science.
-Solving problem (51), human (51), behavior / behavioral (44) decision (36);
makingdecision
(26): These keywords indicate the theme, sometimes implicit, sometimes
explicitly, were present in much of the research and publications
Simon - human behavior in the process of problem solving and decision
decision.
Computers (45), simulation (21), technology (21); artificail-intelligence (18): it
clarify here that these keywords appear frequently because
Simon seeking resources in information technology (software and hardware)
important tools and resources to conduct their research. Through systems
artificial intelligence, he sought to simulate human behavior in the process
decision-making and organizational problem solving.
Cognitive (38); psychology (23); chess (18): these words indicate one of the
Recent research topics of Simon - cognitive psychology - and the attempt to
understand how intelligent systems learn. The term chess indicated various
Sometimes, as in some polls Simon studied the behavior of chess players
before the decision-making process.

 Rationality (16), reasoning (14) rational (12); heuristic (9): the frequency of these
words in their publications resulting from the theme of the text presented in the
Nobel
1978, in which Simon proposed the theory of bounded rationality, indicating that
being
human makes decisions that meet the minimum standards of satisfaction and never
optimization.
Organization (46), public (17), municipal (11): the occurrence of these terms
demonstrates the
Simon's concern with the study of the problems of public organizations and
private.
One must consider that the fragility inherent lexical analysis technique (at
fact just point the frequency of pala Vras out of context), the considerations
Science (61); theory (58); solving (problem) (51), human (51) information (48);
organization (46);
computers (45); model (45); behavior / behavioral (44); cognitive (38); decision
(36); system (34);
Scientific (33), economic (31); administration / administrative (29); social (29)
discovering (27);
making (decision) (26); psychology (23); simulation (21) technology (21); chess
(18); artificialintelligence

(18); management (17); public (17); complex (15); rationality (16); reasoning (14);
modeling (12); rational (12); municipal (11); heuristic (9), mathematical (9);
planning (9); expert
presented above have a high degree of bias, if the author of this article had not
a priori depth study and understanding of classical works of Simon.
Table 1 presents the publications of Simon not for decades, but in
periods in which they highlighted some issues of greatest importance.
Chart 1. Frequencies of keywords in different publications Simon
periods.
PERIOD FREQUENCY KEY WORDS
1937 - 1946 Administration (10), municipal (10), city (7), public (3) Local (3)
urban (2); behavior
(1); decision (1) human (1).
1947 - 1956 Theories (14); organization (12), human (11) administration (11);
behavior (8);
decision (7), economic (5); science (5); rational (4), public (3), problem-solving
(2).
1957 - 1966 Computer (14); decision (14), human (14), problem-solving (12);
theory (11);
simulation (10); heuristic (7) information (7); behavior (6).

1967 - 1979 Information (27); organization (16), problem-solving (15); science

(13); system (14);
theories (13); model (8); computer (7), human (7); artificial-intelligence (6);
behavior
(6); decision (5).
1980 - 2001 Science (37); cognitive (30);-scientific discovering (27); mode l (24),
problem-solving
(22), economic (20); theories (19), human (18); rationality (16); system (15);
computer
(14) information (14); artificial-intelligence (13); behavior (13); decision (9).
Period between 1937 and 1946: still very young, during his graduation, Simon
concerned with the process of decision making in organizations. This theme was
presented in a paper that earned him a scholarship to assist researcher beside
researcher Clarence E. Ridley in the field of municipal administration. Such was
the
importance attached to this subject, which was the main focus of studies in his
thesis
doctorate. All these years of research earned him several publications of books and
articles
about the process of decision making in public organizations (in this period,
published

44 articles and 4 books).

Period between 1947 and 1956: This period begins with the publication of his work
Classical, Administrative behavior, one of the greatest contributions to the theories
of Simon
organizational. The words most frequently indicated in the titles of their
publications in this period show the importance that Simon attributed to the
theories, the
organization, administration and human behavior in decisiondecision (this period he published 83 articles and 5 books).
Period between 1957 and 1966: this period is marked by the appearance of
computers and the possibility of identifying these machines being used as
important aids in the process of decision making and problem solving
Organizational, for example, by modeling and computer simulation of
complex problems (that period, he published 128 articles and 6 books).
Period between 1967 and 1979: This period is marked by increasing research
artificial intelligence systems. Simon made use of such technology in their research
to understand more clearly the behavior of the human mind in solving
problems and decision making. Information systems in organizations are also
Simon focus of study (in this period, he published 179 articles and 6 books).
Between 1980 and 2001: Simon devotes special attention to cognitive psychology,

aiming to understand how learning occurs in intelligent systems and

behavior of scientists in major scientific discoveries (through experiments,
using computer simulation). According to Simon (1978), understand the process
that
scientists use to discover new laws and tested hypotheses has been an activity
dominant model of cognitive psychology and artificial intelligence for decades
and one of its main areas of research activities (in this period, he published 383
articles and 7 books).
According to Table 1, we can see that some keywords (decision,
human, problem-solving, behavior) occur at different periods of their publications,
reaffirming thus the main concern of Simon throughout the course of their
research: the
human behavior in decision-making and problem solving.
According to this finding, it should counteract a certain fallacy that Simon would
changed its main focus of concern during the period of their research and
publications. The fields of computational science, artificial intelligence and
simulation
computing been studied to be important that the fe rramentas assisted in
their research and better understanding of human behavior, but were not
in the center of their concerns.

Table 2 lists all the books published by Simon

(Individually and in co-authorship) in the period from 1937 to 2001. This
presentation is
relevant because it enables the reader to better understand the concerns and
contributions
this theory to science in general.
Table 2. Books published by Simon (individually and in co-authorship) between
1937 and
2001.
TITLE TIME
1937 to 1946
Ridley, C.E., & Simon, H. A. (1938). MEASURING MUNICIPAL ACTIVITIES.
Simon, HA, Divine, WR, Cooper, EM, & Chernin, M. (1941). Determining WORK
LOADS
FOR PROFESSIONAL STAFF IN A PUBLIC WELFARE AGENCY.
Simon,

H.

A.

(1943).

ASPECTS

OF

FISCAL

CONSOLIDATION

METROPOLITAN.
Simon, HA, Shephard, RW & Sharp, FW (1943). Losses FIRE AND FIRE RISKS.
1947 to 1956
Simon, H. A. (1947). TECHNIQUE OF MUNICIPAL ADMINISTRATION.

Simon, H. A. (1947). ADMINISTRATIVE BEHAVIOR.

Simon, H.A. (Ed.). (1948). LOCAL PLANNING ADMINISTRATION.
Simon,

H.A.,

Smithburg,

D.W.,

& Thompson, V.A.

(1950). PUBLIC

ADMINISTRATION.
Simon, HA, Kozometsky, G., Guetzkow, H., & Tyndall, G. (1954). Centralization
VS.
Decentralization IN THE CONTROLLER'S DEPARTMENT Organizing
1957 to 1966
Simon, H. A. (1957). MODELS OF MAN.
March, J. G., & Simon, H. A. (1958). ORGANIZATIONS.
Simon, H. A. (1960). THE NEW SCIENCE OF MANAGEMENT DECISION.
Holt, CC, Modigliani, Muth, J., & Simon, HA (1960). PRODUCTION
PLANNING,
INVENTORIES, AND WORK FORCE.
Ando, A., Fisher, C., & Simon, H. A. (1963). ESSAYS ON THE STRUCTURE OF
SOCIAL SCIENCE
MODELS.
Simon, H. A. (1965). THE SHAPE OF AUTOMATION.
1967 to 1979
Simon, H. A. (1969). THE SCIENCES OF THE ARTIFICIAL.

Newell, A., & Simon, H. A. (1972). HUMAN PROBLEM SOLVING.

Simon,

H.

A.,

&

Siklossy,

L.

(Eds.).

(1972).

MEANING

AND

REPRESENTATION: Experiments
WITH INFORMATION PROCESSING SYSTEMS.
Ijiri, Y., and Simon, H. A. (1977). SKEW DISTRIBUTIONS AND THE SIZES OF
BUSINESS FIRMS.
Simon, H. A. (1977). MODELS OF DISCOVERY.
Simon, H. A. (1979). MODELS OF THOUGHT (Vol. I).
1980 to 2001
Simon, H. A. (1982). MODELS OF bounded rationality (Vols. 1 & 2).
Simon, H. A. (1983). REASON IN HUMAN AFFAIRS.
Ericsson, K.A., & Simon, H. A. (1984). PROTOCOL ANALYSIS: VERBAL
REPORTS AS DATE.
Langley, P. Simon, HA, Bradshaw, GL & Zytkow, JM (1987). SCIENTIFIC
DISCOVERY:
COMPUTATIONAL EXPLORATIONS OF THE CREATIVE PROCESSES.
Simon, H. A. (1989). MODELS OF THOUGHT (Vol. II).
Simon, H. A. (1991). MODELS OF MY LIFE.
Simon, H. A. (1997). MODELS OF bounded rationality (Vol. 3).
Looking at Table 2, it is observed that the works that contributed most to the

organizational theories were published in the period from 1947 to 1960,

highlighting:
Administrative Behavior (1947), Public Administration (1950), Organizations
(1958) and The
New Science of Management Decision (1960).
4th. Final Thoughts
After the analysis of the scientific production of Simon, one can better understand
how
This author has contributed to organizational theories. Surely, administrative
science,
economics, computer science and psychology have gained a lot from
studies and theories of Simon. The contribution to these areas is due,
fundamentally, the central concern throughout his life: to study the behavior
human in the process of decision making and solving organizational problems.
As much as it may seem that Simon has changed his focus of research or
area of knowledge throughout their research, one can conclude, after a consistent
analysis in his work, which it did not. The author's engagement in research in the
field
computer science, artificial intelligence systems, modeling and simulations
computational occurred only to assist the research he performed around the

human behavior.
The relevance of the ideas of Simon to organizational theory stands out as much
for
greatness of his propositions as the principles that led his work.
According to the author, their activities related to science have always had two
principles
Guiding: first, to work for the hardening of social science, so that it
could be better equipped with the tools they need for the difficult tasks
research, and second, to work to improve relations between natural scientists and
social scientists, so that they could contribute together with the knowledge
and skills in the many complex issues of public policy that require both
types of knowledge (Simon, 1978). Mentioning their practical experiences in
organizations, said that in his work always tried to apply their knowledge
scientific decision making in organizations and, conversely, use these
practical experiences to gain ideas for new research (Simon, 1978). In order to
disseminate their ideas, Simon worked in various institutions participated in
numerous
Congress finally had an academic and professional life quite intense.
Finally, it is worth noting that Simon, along with others, helped
better understanding of organizational phenomena. Many of the "fads" recent

especially in the field of administration, are slightly forgotten because of

inconsistency of their proposals. Moreover, to further investigate the work
authors such as Simon notes that consistency and originality of their theorizing
should cherish for a long time, debates and studies in the field of organizational
theory.
References
Kulkarni, D, Simon, H. A. The processes of scientific discovery: the strategy of
experimentation.
Cognitive Science. v.12, p.139-176, 1988.
March, J. G.; SIMON, H.A. Organizations. New York, NY: Wiley, 1958.
SIMON, H.A. Administrative Behavior. New York, NY: Macmillan, 1947.
SIMON, HA The New Science Of Management Decision. New York, NY: Harper
and Row, 1960.
SIMON, H. A. On How to Decide What to Do. The Rand Journal of Economics,
v.9, n.2, 1978.
SIMON, HA Rational decision making in business organizations. American
Economic Review, v.69, p.
493-513, 1979.
SIMON, H. Alternative Visions of Rationality. In: ARKES, H.; Hammonds, K.
(Eds.) Judgement and
Decision Making. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1986.

SIMON, HA management Making Decisions: The role of intuition and emotion.

Academy of Management
Executive, p.57-64, feb. 1987.
SIMON, H.A. et al. Decision making and problem solving. Management science.
v.17, n.5, p.11-21, 1987.
SIMON, HA Prediction and prescription in systems modeling. Operations
Research, v.38, p.7-14, 1990.
SIMON, H. A. Information 101: It's not what you know, it's how you know it. The
Journal for Quality and
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SIMON, H.A. public administration Why? Journal of Public Administration
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