Choosing a Decision-Making
Strategy
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Office Coach is copyrighted to Marie G. McIntyre. All rights reserved.
May be reproduced
with copyright and attribution to
www.yourofficecoach.com.
Decision-making involves
more than processing information. It is also an interpersonal process.
You must decide how to involve others in making the decision – or
whether to include them at all. Your decision-making strategy should be
influenced by these four variables:
(1) availability of information, (2)
superiority of one decision, (3) acceptance of the decision by
others, (4) amount of time to decide. Five possible
approaches to decision-making are listed below, with indicators for
choosing each one.
§
Option 1: MAKE THE DECISION BY YOURSELF.
Reasons to use this strategy: You have all the information you need. You
already know which decision is likely to be best. Acceptance by others
is not important. A decision must be made quickly.
§
Option 2: GET INFORMATION FROM OTHERS, THEN DECIDE BY
YOURSELF.
Reasons to use this strategy: You lack critical information that others
have. With this information, you will be able to tell which decision is
best. Acceptance by others is not important. A decision must be made
quickly.
§
Option 3: BEFORE DECIDING, CONSULT WITH OTHERS
ONE-ON-ONE TO GET THEIR VIEWS.
Reasons to use this strategy: The best decision is not clear. Others may
have conflicting views or different priorities. Hearing different
perspectives will help you make a better decision. Including others in
the process will increase acceptance of the decision. A group
discussion would not be helpful. You have time for consultation.
§
Option 4: BEFORE DECIDING, HAVE A GROUP DISCUSSION TO
EXPLORE OPTIONS.
Reasons to use this strategy: The best decision is not clear. Others may
have conflicting views or different priorities. You need to hear other
perspectives to make a good decision. Having a group discussion will
allow more possibilities to be explored. Hearing the views of others
will help group members understand and accept the decision. Group
discussion is logistically possible. You have time for group
participation.
§
Option 5: ASK THE GROUP TO REACH A CONSENSUS
INDEPENDENTLY.
Reasons to use this strategy: The best decision is not clear. You have
no strong preferences. Group members share your priorities and can
agree on common goals. Group members have all relevant information.
The group has a big stake in the outcome. Acceptance by the group is
important. The group has a history of working well together. Group
discussion is logistically possible. You have time for
consensus-building.
Making good decisions depends not only on locating
all necessary information, but also on involving the right people in the
right way. If you tend to overuse one or two of the above strategies,
look for appropriate occasions to try a different approach.
Copyright Marie G.
McIntyre. All rights reserved. May be reproduced with copyright and
attribution to
www.yourofficecoach.com . |
