Steps in Decision Making

Decision making is at the core of every leaders job. This activity is important because it focuses on the four key steps that a decision maker should strive to implement, to the greatest extent possible, when making a decision.

The goal of this exercise is to challenge your knowledge of the four steps in rational decision making.

For each item, select the appropriate stage of the rational decision making process that the item best describes.

Drop down answer choices are Stage1, Stage2, Stage3, Stage4

1. In this stage, the problem or opportunity is identified.

2. Decide whether a solution youve generated is the right thing to do. In other words, is this an ethical solution to a problem?

3. Take time to carefully plan out your chosen solution.

4. Thinking of alternative solutions takes place in this stage.

5. Search for possibilities to exceed existing goals. This requires looking past the barrage of daily problems and figuring out what you can do better than expected.

6. In this stage, alternatives are evaluated and a solution is selected.

7. Think creatively about what you can do to solve problems youve identified.

8. Consider how those affected by your solution will feel about any changes, and give them the necessary latitude.

9. Look for difficulties that inhibit goal achievement. These include things like high staff turnover, competitor innovations, and sales shortfalls.

10. Use techniques like brainstorming to generate alternative solutions to solving your current problems.

11. Evaluate a solution based on whether its actually feasible. Do you have the time, resources, etc. to make this work?