Choosing a Decision-Making
Strategy
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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:
-
Availability of information
-
Clear
superiority of one choice
-
Need to have others accept the decision
-
Amount of time available for decision-making.
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.
You may also be interested in these topics .
. .
Managing
Different "Change Personalities"
How to Help People Accept
Change
Why
Smart People Make Stupid Decisions
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All
material on yourofficecoach.com
is copyrighted to Marie G. McIntyre.
All rights reserved.
May
be reproduced for non-commercial use with copyright and attribution to
www.yourofficecoach.com.
Commercial use requires permission: email
mmcintyre@yourofficecoach.com
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