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DECISION MAKING:Categories of Decisions, The Decision-Making Process

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Leadership & Team Management ­ MGMT 623
VU
Lecture 29
DECISION MAKING
Decision Making and Decision Making Process:
A decision is a choice made from two or more alternatives. The decision-making process is
recognizing and defining the nature of a decision situation, identifying alternatives, choosing the "best"
alternative, and putting it into practice. An effective decision is one that optimizes some set of factors
such as profits, sales, employee welfare, and market share. Managers make decisions about both
problems and opportunities.
Problem Solving Vs Decision Making
Problem solving: finding the root cause of a deviation (cause analysis)
o
Decision making: choosing from alternative courses of action (choice analysis)
o
Problem solving --------------- Decision making
Categories of Decisions
·
Technical
·
Emotional
·
Communication
·
Budget
·
Ethical
·
Personnel
·
Career
Relative Importance
Types of Decisions:
Programmed Decisions: A decision that is a fairly structured decision or recurs with some frequency
or both. Example: Starting your car in the morning.
Non-programmed decisions: A decision that is relatively unstructured and occurs much less often than
a programmed decision. Example: Choosing a vacation destination.
Intuitive decision making: Managers also regularly use their intuition. Intuitive decision making is a
subconscious process of making decisions on the basis of experience and accumulated Judgment.
Making decisions on the basis of gut feeling doesn't necessarily happen independently of rational
o
analysis; the two complement each other.
Although intuitive decision making will not replace the rational decision-making process, it does
o
play an important role in managerial decision making
Decision-Making Conditions
Decision Making Under Certainty
o
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Leadership & Team Management ­ MGMT 623
VU
o  A condition in which the decision maker knows with reasonable certainty what the
alternatives are and what conditions are associated with each alternative. A situation in
which a manager can make accurate decisions because all outcomes are known. Few
managerial decisions are made under the condition of certainty.
Decision Making Under Risk
o
o  A condition in which the availability of each alternative and its potential payoffs and costs
are all associated with risks.
Decision Making Under Uncertainty
o
A condition in which the decision maker does not know all the alternatives, the risks
o
associated with each, or the consequences of each alternative. Uncertainty is a situation in
which the decision maker is not certain and cannot even make reasonable probability
estimates concerning outcomes of alternatives.
The choice of alternative is influenced by the limited amount of information
available to the decision maker.
It's also influenced by the psychological orientation of the decision maker
The Decision-Making Process:
Step 1: Identifying a problem. A problem is a discrepancy between an existing and a desired state of
affairs. In order to identify a problem, you as a manager/leader should recognize and understand the
three characteristics of problems:
o  You must be aware of the problem. Be sure to identify the actual problem rather than a symptom of
the problem.
o  You must be under pressure to act. A true problem puts pressure on the manager to take action; a
problem without pressure to act is a problem that can be postponed.
o  You must have the authority or resources to act. When managers recognize a problem and are under
pressure to take action but do not have necessary resources, they usually feel that unrealistic
demands are being put upon them.
Step 2: Identifying decision criteria. Decision criteria are criteria that define what is relevant in a
decision.
Step 3: Allocating weights to the criteria. The criteria identified in  Step 2 of the decision-making
process do not have equal importance, so the decision maker must assign a weight to each of the items
in order to give each item accurate priority in the decision.
Step 4: Developing alternatives. The decision maker must now identify viable
alternatives that
could resolve the problem.
Step 5: Analyzing alternatives. Each of the alternatives must now be critically analyzed by evaluating
it against the criteria established in Steps 2 and 3.
Step 6: Selecting an alternative. This step to select the best alternative from among those identified
and assessed is critical. If criteria weights have been used, the decision maker simply selects the
alternative that received the highest score in Step 5.
Step 7: Implementing the alternative. The selected alternative must be implemented by effectively
communicating the decision to the individuals who will be affected by it and winning their commitment
to the decision.
Step 8: Evaluating Results. This last step in the decision-making process assesses the result of the
decision to determine whether or not the problem has been resolved.
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Leadership & Team Management ­ MGMT 623
VU
Evaluating Alternatives in the Decision-Making Process
Quantitative and Qualitative Factors in Decision Making:
Quantitative Factors
o  Investment appraisal
o  Break-even analysis
o  Market research
o  Sales forecasting
o  Critical path analysis
o  Decision trees
Qualitative Factors
o  Stakeholder analysis
o  HRM
o  SWOT
The Classical Model of Decision Making: Classical model is based on economic conditions and
considered to be normative. It relates to accomplishment of goals that are known and agreed upon. The
classical model Strives for certainty by gathering complete information. This is also use as criteria for
evaluating alternatives that are known.
Decision Making Behavior:
Behavior always varies person to person. People tend to adopt a particular decision making approach as
a result of factors such as;
o  Their own personality
o  Their current mood
o  The organisational culture
o  The personality of the person/people they are dealing with
o  The nature of the relationship they have with the people they are dealing with
o  Time pressure and perceived level of stress
Being aware of these influences can result in better decision making, by adopting the best decision
making approach for each situation.
Decision Making Approaches:
o  Withdrawing: holding off making the decision.
o  Smoothing: focusing on areas of agreement and ignoring areas of difference.
o  Compromising: trying to come up with a decision that provides some degree of satisfaction for
all parties.
o  Confronting/problem solving: working through the issues.
o  Forcing: executing a particular decision knowing agreement has not been reached.
What Kinds Of Decisions Do People Make In The Workplace?
o  Handling complex problems individually
o  Handling complex problems as a team
o  Focusing effort
o  Judging people
How to Make Better Decisions:
1. Increase Your Knowledge
o  Ask questions.
o  Get experience.
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Leadership & Team Management ­ MGMT 623
VU
o  Use consultants.
o  Do your research.
o  Force yourself to recognize the facts when you see them (maintain your objectivity).
2. Use Your Intuition
o  A cognitive process whereby a person instinctively makes a decision based on his or her
accumulated knowledge and experience.
3. Weigh the Pros and Cons
o  Quantify realities by sizing up your options, and taking into consideration the relative
importance of each of your objectives.
4. Don't Overstress the Finality of Your Decision
o  Remember that few decisions are forever.
5. Make Sure the Timing Is Right
o  Decisions always depend on the time.
Helpful Hints:
Don't
Do
Clearly identify the decision to be
Make assumptions
o
o
made
Delay
o
Involve people qualified to help in the
Jump to conclusions
o
o
decision making
Make uninformed decisions
o
Identify the context of the decision (the
Favour one decision prior to gathering
o
o
bigger picture)
the facts and evaluating the alternatives
Identify all alternatives
Allow only technical people to make
o
o
Assess each alternative
the decisions
o
Assess the risks
Attempt to make a decision in isolation
o
o
Consider your "gut feel"
of the context
o
Make the decision and stick to it
Let emotion override objectivity
o
o
Roadblocks to Good Decision Making
o  Human Cognition
o  Our mental ability to comprehend and understand something
o  Human Perception
o  Difficulty isolating problems
o  Tend to think of only narrow range of possible solution
o  Human Bias
o  Tendency to shape responses based on stereotypes, memory, and current position
Decision-Making and Technology: In today's completive world Information technology can also help
and support the decision-making. Different decision making tools are available for manager and leaders
to use in practical life.
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Table of Contents:
  1. INTRODUCTION, ORGANIZATION THE STAGE FOR LEADERSHIP:Challenges, Value creation
  2. FOCUSING ON PEOPLE: THE KEY TO SUCCESS:People in the Process, Developing and Sustaining A World-class Workforce
  3. LEADERSHIP:Characteristics of Successful Leader, Why Study Leadership?
  4. LEADERSHIP (CONTD.):Characteristics of Leaders Who Fail, Why Leaders Fail?
  5. MANAGERS VS LEADERS:Characteristics, Effective Leadership, Respect for Diversity
  6. FOLLOWER-SHIP:Importance of Followers, Follower-ship Style
  7. LEADERSHIP PROCESS:Strategies for Cultivating Exemplary Followers, Important Traits of Leaders
  8. LEADERSHIP PROCESS (CONTD.):Qualities of Leaders, Self-Confidence, Integrity
  9. LEADERSHIP THEORIES/ APPROACHES:Personal Characteristics of Leaders, Managerial Grid
  10. CONTINGENCY THEORIES OF LEADERSHIP:The Fiedler Model, Situational Leadership Theory, Path-Goal Theory
  11. TRANSACTIONAL, CHARISMATIC AND TRANSFORMATIONAL LEADERSHIP:Visionary Leadership
  12. THE LEADER AS AN INDIVIDUAL:Personality, Situation, Heredity, Environment
  13. ATTITUDE-PERSONALITY:Job Satisfaction, Work Situation, Self - Monitoring
  14. BIG FIVE MODEL, MYERS BRIGGS TYPE INDICATOR (MBTI):Sub-Categories Defined, Information Gathering
  15. SITUATIONAL FACTORS:Social and psychological climate, Culture of the organization
  16. BECOMING A LEADER! WHAT DOES IT MEAN & HOW DO YOU GET IT?:Mission Statement, Leading oneself
  17. BECOMING A LEADER:Elements of Leadership, CONCEPT OF POWER,
  18. UNDERSTANDING POWER:Sources of Power, Responses to the Use of Power, Managing Political Behavior
  19. LEADERSHIP POWER & INFLUENCE:Positional Power, Being an Effective Leader
  20. LEADERSHIP AND EMPOWERMENT:Power sharing and Empowerment, Share Information
  21. MOTIVATION:Guidelines for Delegating, Human Resource Approach
  22. MOTIVATION AT WORK, MOTIVATION AND LEADERSHIP:What Factors Diminish Motivation in the Workplace
  23. LEADERSHIP COMMUNICATION:Communication & the Four Management Functions
  24. REVIEW-1:Organizational Performance, That is the Role of Management?, Leaders Vs Managers
  25. GROUP & TEAM CONCEPT:Groups versus Teams, Deciding When to Use a Team
  26. TEAM DYNAMICS:Stages of Group Development, Problem-Solving Teams, Benefits of Teams
  27. BUILDING THE TEAM:Leadership success requires, Strategies for Team Building
  28. A TEAM-BASED ORGANIZATION:Basic Steps, Span of Control, Categories of Decisions
  29. DECISION MAKING:Categories of Decisions, The Decision-Making Process
  30. TEAM DECISION MAKING:Team Problem Solving Techniques, Concept of QC
  31. EFFECTIVE TEAM COMMUNICATION:Team/Group Communications
  32. CONFLICT IN TEAM:Sources of Conflict, Scarcity of Resources, Dysfunctional Outcomes
  33. TRAINING/LEARNING OF TEAM:Training Methods, Phases of Learning Cycles
  34. LEARNING ORGANIZATION:A Litmus Test, Work Relations
  35. REWARDING & RECOGNIZING TEAMWORK:Compensating Teams, Individual or Team Rewards?
  36. MANAGING/LEADING VIRTUAL TEAMS:Communications in Virtual Organizations, Virtual Leadership
  37. EFFECTIVE TEAM MEETINGS:Better Meetings, Meeting Roles, Meeting Room Facilities
  38. LEADING TEAM:Team Leadership Structures, Leadership Demands and Duties, Leadership Direction
  39. REVIEW-II:Types of Teams, Characteristics of High Performance Teams, Sources of Conflict
  40. STRATEGIC LEADERSHIP:Strategic Management, Determining Strategic Direction, Developing Human Capital:
  41. LEADING CHANGE:Dynamics of Change, Change Models, Unfreeze
  42. CREATIVE LEADERSHIP:Awaken Your Senses, How Might These Definitions Be Integrated
  43. ETHICS IN LEADERSHIP:Character Traits Reflect Ethics, Manifests Honesty
  44. LOOKING AT THE FUTURE: WHAT COMES NEXT:Benefits of Teams, Ethical Leadership,
  45. TEAMWORK: LEARNING FROM NATURE:Social Behavior, Termites, Learning from Nature