From probabilistics to determinism: an essay on risk assessment and decisionmaking in sociotechnical systems
Probabilistic analysis is the usual starting point for sociotechnical risk assessments aimed at deciding whether or not a particular risk is acceptable. However, the available probabilistic evidence is usually insufficient as a basis for such decisions, and so the assessment has to be supplemented by a judgemental process of a more deterministic nature. This concluding phase in decisionmaking is e