Computational Model Library

The Garbage Can Model of Organizational Choice (4.0.0)

The Garbage Can Model of Organizational Choice is a fundamental model of organizational decision-making originally proposed by J.D. Cohen, J.G. March and J.P. Olsen in 1972. In the 2000s, G. Fioretti and A. Lomi presented a NetLogo agent-based interpretation of this model. This code is the NetLogo 6.1.1 updated version of the Fioretti-Lomi model.

organization.png

Release Notes

This is a simplified and updated version of my NetLogo interpretation of Cohen, March and Olsen’s Garbage Can Model. It has been prepared for a forthcoming book edited by J. Larson and C. Cohen.

Associated Publications

G. Fioretti and A. Lomi (2008) An Agent-Based Representation of the Garbage Can Model of Organizational Choice. Journal of Artificial Societies and Social Simulation, 11 (1).

G. Fioretti and A. Lomi (2008) The Garbage Can Model of Organizational Choice: An Agent-Based Reconstruction. Simulation Modelling Practice and Theory, 16 (2): 192-217. DOI: 10.1016/j.simpat.2007.11.010.

G. Fioretti and A. Lomi (2010) Passing the Buck in the Garbage Can Model of Organizational Choice (with A. Lomi). Computational and Mathematical Organization Theory, 16 (2): 113-143.

The Garbage Can Model of Organizational Choice 4.0.0

Submitted by Guido Fioretti Published Apr 23, 2026 Last modified Apr 23, 2026
modelling organisations decision processes decision model Organizational behavior computational organization theory decision making collective self-organization

The Garbage Can Model of Organizational Choice is a fundamental model of organizational decision-making originally proposed by J.D. Cohen, J.G. March and J.P. Olsen in 1972. In the 2000s, G. Fioretti and A. Lomi presented a NetLogo agent-based interpretation of this model. This code is the NetLogo 6.1.1 updated version of the Fioretti-Lomi model.

Release Notes

This is a simplified and updated version of my NetLogo interpretation of Cohen, March and Olsen’s Garbage Can Model. It has been prepared for a forthcoming book edited by J. Larson and C. Cohen.

Cite this Model

Guido Fioretti (2026, April 23). “The Garbage Can Model of Organizational Choice” (Version 4.0.0). CoMSES Computational Model Library. Retrieved from: https://www.comses.net/codebases/f0613922-9cb1-4656-a26c-af57f823fb69/releases/4.0.0/

Replication of a previously described model

This model replicates:
M.D. Cohen, J.G. March and J.P. Olsen (1972) A Garbage Can Model of Organizational Choice.
Administrative Science Quarterly, 17 (1): 1-25.

Associated Publication(s)

G. Fioretti and A. Lomi (2008) An Agent-Based Representation of the Garbage Can Model of Organizational Choice. Journal of Artificial Societies and Social Simulation, 11 (1).

G. Fioretti and A. Lomi (2008) The Garbage Can Model of Organizational Choice: An Agent-Based Reconstruction. Simulation Modelling Practice and Theory, 16 (2): 192-217. DOI: 10.1016/j.simpat.2007.11.010.

G. Fioretti and A. Lomi (2010) Passing the Buck in the Garbage Can Model of Organizational Choice (with A. Lomi). Computational and Mathematical Organization Theory, 16 (2): 113-143.

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Contributors
Guido Fioretti
DOI

This DOI is for the parent Codebase and always points at the most recent published version of this model. 10.25937/8hqh-0753

Model Version
4.0.0
License
GPL-3.0
Programming Language
NetLogo 7.0.3 NetLogo
Software Framework
NetLogo
Operating System
Operating System Independent
Publish Date
Thursday, April 23, 2026
Last Updated
Thursday, April 23, 2026
Downloads 191
This release has not been reviewed but a different version has passed peer review.
Version Submitter First published Last modified Status
4.0.0 Guido Fioretti Thu Apr 23 18:07:29 2026 Thu Apr 23 18:07:31 2026 Published
3.1.1 Guido Fioretti Thu Apr 23 18:55:40 2020 Thu Dec 5 06:37:00 2024 Published Peer Reviewed DOI: 10.25937/729e-sg45
3.0.0 Guido Fioretti Mon Apr 20 21:34:57 2020 Mon Apr 20 21:34:58 2020 Published

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