New uses of Delphi in strategy formulation

Delphi's traditional use in strategy formulation has been for forecasting the future. A more promising, yet largely unexplored use, is for analysing current problems related to setting objectives, generating alternatives, and evaluating potential strategies. Case examples illustrate the technique's flexibility and advantages. In particular, its two-way flow of anonymous information has important behavioural properties for the formulation of strategy.     

Some Observations on the Use of TA in Marriage Counseling*

Most marital difficulties are seen as a function of childhood problems leading to childhood solutions. This paper emphasizes the symbiotic aspect to marital problems both in terms of the individual's existential position and his racket/ racketeering behavior. The goal of treatment is to have the individual utilize his resources for himself and to negotiate these resources for his mate. A group of spouse and non-spouse members, coupled with a Transactional Analysis orientation, is seen as the most useful approach to effect change in a person, as well as in his relationship to his spouse.     

Cost-benefit versus expected utility acceptance rules

A rule for the acceptance of scientific hypotheses called the principle of cost-benefit dominance is shown to be more effective and efficient than the well-known principle of the maximization of expected (epistemic) utility. Harvey's defense of his theory of the circulation of blood in animals is examined as a historical paradigm case of a successful defense of a scientific hypothesis and as an implicit application of the cost-benefit dominance rule advocated here. Finally, various concepts of dominance are considered by means of which the effectiveness of our rule may be increased.The number of friends who have kindly given me suggestions and encouragement is almost embarrassingly large, but I would like to express my gratitude to Myles Brand, Cliff Hooker, David Hull, Scott Kleiner, Hugh Lehman, Werner Leinfellner, Andrew McLaughlin and Tom W. Settle.