Cohen's research centered on learning and adaptation within organizations in response to changing environments. He wrote many articles and books which contributed to theories of organizational decision making. Much of his work employed computer simulation.[3]
In 1972, as a NSF-SSRC post-doctoral fellow at Stanford University, Cohen worked with James G. March and visiting professor Johan Olsen from the University of Bergen. Together they published the paper; A Garbage Can Model of Organizational Choice.[4] The paper, since frequently cited,[5] describes the garbage can model, a model which disconnects problems, solutions and decision makers from each other.[clarification needed] This was a novel approach compared to traditional decision theory.[6] The paper includes Fortransource code to demonstrate the model.
Complexity
By 1981, Cohen was working at the University of Michigan.[7]
In 2000 Cohen and Axelrod went on to publish a book on complexity in organizations: Harnessing Complexity: Organizational Implications of a Scientific Frontier.[9]
Other works
Cohen's later work included studies in organizational behavior in hospitals, with a view to improving patient care.[10] Much of this work focused on "handoffs"; the transfer of responsibility for patients from one team or department to another.[11]
Cohen, Michael; Sproull, Lee, eds. (1991). "Organizational Learning: Papers in Honor of (and by) James G. March". Organization Science. 2 (1). Special edition. (Reprinted, with additions and a new introduction, by SAGE Publications, November, 1995.)
——; Riolo, Rick L.; Axelrod, Robert (2005). "Tags, Interaction Patterns and the Evolution of Cooperation". In Mitchell, M.; Booker, L.; Forrest, S.; et al. (eds.). Perspectives on Adaptation, Evolution and Complex Adaptive Systems. Oxford University Press.
——; Wesorick D.W.; Fleming A.; Hsu R.; Kim C.; Lee F.; Lim S.; Mangrulkar R.; Parekh V.; Thompson M.; Yakel E.; Kramer M. (May 2006). Standardized Observations of Cross-Cover Events in Hospitalized Patients: What goes "bump" in the night? (Poster). Washington D.C.: Society of Hospital Medicine National Conference.
—— (2007). "Beyond Boundedly Rational Individuals: Remarks on "Behavioral Organizational Economics". In Diamond, Peter; Vartiainen, Hannu (eds.). Behavioral Economics and Its Applications: Proceedings of the Yrjö Jahnsson Foundation 50th Anniversary Conference. Princeton New Jersey: Princeton University Press.
