To function properly, rational-comprehensive decision making must satisfy two conditions that are unlikely to be met for most issues: agreement on objectives and a knowledge base sufficient to permit accurate prediction of consequences associated with available alternatives.
On both these issues agreement that something should be done is not enough to ensure that it is.If the list of things where co-operation is possible is short and comes with many disclaimers, the opportunities for confrontation are numerous.
Here, the president wants the involvement of the directors, and he not only allows for, but insists on, full discussion, exploration of the issues, agreement, and decisions by the board along with himself.
"Our approach to the negotiations was rigorous and disciplined with a sense of urgency to provide additional assistance to our customers and get the mortgage crisis behind us". Wells Fargo spokesman Tom Goyada said the settlement "is not a one-issue agreement.
It has no exclusions, comprehensively covering SME supply chain management, extensive deregulation (including inner border rules, telecommunications, and state-owned enterprises etc)., as well as advancement on emerging issues agreements.
"The breakthrough was that the banks committed themselves to a 'global settlement of Holocaust-era issues,' " implying agreement to discuss issues far beyond dormant accounts, he added.
Also, a televised plenary session might tempt some participants to grandstand or demagogue an issue, making agreement that much more difficult.
One important issue the agreement does not address is the legal framework to prosecute any State Department contractors who violate the law.
Mr. Pataki, as with every other issue where agreement has eluded lawmakers, blamed the Democratic Assembly Speaker, Sheldon Silver, for holding up the effort.
