Simon, << SY muhn, >> Herbert Alexander (1916-2001), was an American scientist known for his work in economics, psychology, and computer science. He won the 1978 Nobel Prize in economics for his research on the decision-making process in business.
Simon cast doubt on the traditional theory of business decision making. This theory holds that business executives always choose the alternative that will bring the most profits. Simon maintained that executives, who have limited time and information to make decisions, settle for what they consider reasonable gains.
Simon also used computers to study human thought processes. His research involved the development of computer programs that duplicate human reasoning and problem solving.
Simon was born on June 15, 1916, in Milwaukee. He taught at the Illinois Institute of Technology from 1942 to 1949, when he joined the faculty of Carnegie Mellon University. His books include The Sciences of the Artificial (1969), Human Problem Solving (1972), and Models of Discovery (1977). He died on Feb. 9, 2001.
