Models of decision: The case of Prince William County and the Disney's America Theme Park

This dissertation examines the decision by Prince William County to support the Disney's America Theme Park as part of its overall economic development strategy.Graham Allison's three models of decision-making, rational actor, organization procedure and bureaucratic politics, have been used as tools of analysis in arriving at a more complete understanding of the County's decision to support the Disney development.In addition to the Allison models, I have relied upon media records, archival data and recorded interviews with public officials as well as activists who were directly involved in the ongoing debate.The evidence gathered and presented here indicates that no single model defined by Allison is sufficient to explain fully Prince William County's decision. Each of the three models is of value however, as each offers some unique insight into the process which resulted in the County's acceptance of the Disney development.County officials viewed the Disney development as both consistent with their strategic economic development plans, and of crucial importance the County's efforts to avoid major fiscal troubles occasioned by rapid population growth. To that extent, the decision to support the Disney's America Theme Park was consistent with Allison's rational actor model. Prince William County's support of the project, however, resulted from the ongoing interaction of many players who held varying points of view. Both the standard operating procedure of Allison's organization procedure model and the pulling and hauling of his bureaucratic politics models were in evidence as revealed by this analysis.