BASICS OF DECISION MAKING

BASICS OF DECISION MAKING

According to the Business Dictionary, decision making is the thought process of selecting a logical choice from the available options. It is the process of deciding about something important, especially in a group of people or in an organization. When trying to make a good decision, a person must weigh the positives and negatives of each option, and consider all the alternatives.

Decision making, just like anything, is a process which involves a number of stages. Some of these steps include: identification of the purpose of the decision;  information gathering; judgment; brainstorming and analyzing the different choices; evaluation of alternatives ;selection of the best alternative; evaluating the results and finally executing the decision. For effective decision making, a person must be able to forecast the outcome of each option as well, and based on all these items, determine which option is the best for that particular situation.

While making a decision it is vital to know that a person can come up with a decision from a number of options, and none of them may fit the prevailing situations. Therefore, making the appropriate decision entails assessing information and coming up with a course of action. However, none of the choices are ideal. It is advisable therefore to make a decision depending on best existing options. On the other hand, one should avoid making fast decisions. Instead, an in-depth look should be given to a problem whether simple or complex, and reasonable judgments drawn out of it. At the same time, one should not adjourn making a decision on a more minor idea, but make better decisions as he or she goes along. It is difficult to forecast the upcoming but easier to recall the past. Therefore the decision made now determines the future.

Through lack of self-control, most people get involved in unnecessary decisions that impacts negatively on their conduct. However, during simulation and self-control practices people are able to control and reduce stressful decisions that do not add value to their lives especially when the affected individuals learn to deal with their foes through active participation and analytical listening ( Xie, 2002).

In summary, one should think how the decision made will influence certain persons, positively or negatively. In this case, he or she should get as many persons involved as possible, since it will not only assist him or her to see the entire issue more evidently, but also inspire these persons too, and nurture an atmosphere of greater collaboration and obligation. It is necessary to know that all choices have complications. Planned decision-making necessitates exploration of the four decision constituents which are perspective, objective, preferences, and measures. By adhering to a stage by stage decision-making course, one will have all the data required.

REFERENCES

·         Anderson, F. and Xie, M. (2002). The three secrets of decision making.  Portland: Single Reef Press.

·         Carter, M. (2010)."Basic Guidelines to Problem Solving and Decision Making." Free Management Library.

·         Roth, B. and Mullen, J. (2002). Decision making: its logic and practice. Rowman and Littlefield Publishers, Inc. Lanham.

·         Allwood, M. (2001). Decision making: social and creative dimensions. Kluwer Academic Publishers, Netherlands.

·         Business dictionary, online version. Wednesday, 15^th may, 2013.