Module 6: Decision Making

Abdul Malik abdulmalik0234@yahoo.com

Should You Ask?

Sir, why is my coursework marks so low? I deserve higher marks. Hehehe!

Which Mobile Phone should I buy?

What are the things you consider before making a decision?

What should I wear for class (or work) today?

What are the things you consider before making a decision?

Module 6: Decision Making

1. What is Decision Making?

2. Barriers to Good Decision Making

3. Decision Making Process 4. Decision Making Tools

"No sensible decision can be made any longer without taking into account not only the world as it is, but the world as it will be. . ." - Isaac Asimov

6.1 What is Decision Making?

Decision making is the cognitive process leading to the selection of a course of action among alternatives. Every decision making process produces a final choice It choice. can be an action or an opinion opinion. It begins when we need to do something but we do not know what. Therefore, decision making is a reasoning process which can be rational or irrational, and can be based on explicit assumptions or tacit assumptions. Examples: Shopping, deciding what to eat, What to wear, when to sleep, etc..

Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Decision_making

Successful leaders have the courage to take action while others hesitate.
- John C. Maxwell

6.2 Barriers to Good Decision Making

Hasty - Making quick decisions without having much thought. Narrow - Decision making is based on very limited information. Scattered - Our thoughts in making decisions are disconnected or disorganized. Fuzzy - Sometimes, the lack of clarity on important aspects of a decision causes us to overlook certain important considerations.

For an explanation of the logical processes behind some of these barriers refer to Module 4 (Fallacies and Module 1 (Section - Barriers to Critical Thinking Fallacies) Thinking).

 Making good decisions is a crucial skill at every level. - Peter Drucker

6.3 Decision Making Process

Steps
1. Define the decision clearly.

Tips
A lot of decision making goes wrong at the starting point. the more specific your definition of the decision is to made, the clearer will be your analysis and the likelihood of success. Successful decision makers explore all of the possible choices of the situation. In fact many of the less obvious choices turn out to be the most effective ones. In many cases, we may lack sufficient information to make an informed decision. Analyze the advantages and disadvantages of each choice Synthesize all what you learned in previous steps and make a conclusion that you believe to be your best choice. Once you have selected your best choice, you need to develop and implement a specific and concrete plan of action. As you begin taking the steps in your plan, you will discover that adjustments need to be made.

2. Consider all the possible choices. 3. Gather all relevant information and evaluate all the pros and cons of each possible choice. 4. Select the choice that seems to best meet the needs of the situation. 5. Implement a plan of action and . then monitor the results, making necessary adjustments.

Because I'm thinking in a broader way, I feel like I am able to make better decisions.
- Takafumi Horie

6.4 Decision Making Tools

Tools to facilitate better decisions:
CoRT (Module 2) SWOT ANALYSIS (Next) SIX THINKING HATS (Module 7) DECISION MATRIX FORCE FIELD ANALYSIS ISHIKAWA DIAGRAM MIND MAPPING SOCRATIC QUESTIONING More

I can study these tools on my own. Click!

MyCoted + Mind Tools + Creativity Web

Strengths

Weaknesses

Opportunities

Threats

6.4.1 SWOT Analysis

SWOT analysis is a great technique for identifying your Strengths and Weaknesses and study any Opportunities and Threats you face. It is also a powerful strategic planning tool used to evaluate a project or in a business venture or in any other situation of an organization or individual requiring a decision in pursuit of an objective. It involves monitoring the marketing environment internal and external to the organization or individual.
Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SWOT_Analysis

6.4.1 SWOT Analysis Strategic Use

Orienting SWOTs to An Objective - If SWOT analysis does not start with defining a desired end state or objective, it runs the risk of being useless. If a clear objective has been identified, SWOT analysis can be used to help in the pursuit of that objective. In this case, SWOTs are:

Strengths
Attributes of the organization that are helpful to achieving the objective.

Weaknesses
Attributes of the organization that are harmful to achieving the objective.

Opportunities
External conditions that are helpful to achieving the objective.

Threats
External conditions that are harmful to achieving the objective.

Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SWOT_Analysis

6.4.1 SWOT Analysis Creative Use

Creative Use of SWOTs If the objective seems attainable, the SWOTs are used as inputs to the creative generation of possible strategies, by asking (usually in groups) and answering each of the following four questions, many times:

Strengths
How can we Use each Strength?

Weaknesses
How can we Stop each Weakness?

Opportunities
How can we Exploit each Opportunity?

Threats
How can we Defend against each Threat?

Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SWOT_Analysis

6.4.1 SWOT Analysis Internal and External Factors

The aim of any SWOT analysis is to identify the key internal and external factors that are important to achieving the objective. SWOT analysis groups key pieces of information into two main categories: Strengths Internal Factors Organization Weaknesses Opportunities External Factors External Environment Threats
Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SWOT_Analysis

6.4.1 SWOT Analysis Errors to Be Avoided

Conducting a SWOT analysis before defining and agreeing upon an objective (a desired end state). SWOTs should not exist in the abstract. They can exist only with reference to an objective. Opportunities external to the company are often confused with strengths internal to the company. They should be kept separate. SWOTs are sometimes confused with possible strategies. SWOTs are descriptions of conditions, while possible strategies define actions.
Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SWOT_Analysis

Group Activity
Break into groups of 4 6. Identify a potential product/service to invest in (e.g. buying a car), or business project/venture to pursue. Do a SWOT analysis to identify the key internal and external factors that are important to consider (refer to the template). Assess the findings, and make a decision. Example: Imagine you want to assess whether to study at UNITAR or not. Do a SWOT analysis, assess and then make a decision.

5 min 15 min 5 min 15 min

Identify a potential product/service/project/venture to invest or pursue. Do a SWOT analysis, assess, and then make a decision. Document your SWOT analysis findings in the template provided. Group presentation & discussion.

The Group leader must submit their findings in hard-copy or soft-copy format to the lecturer before or during the next class.

Summary
6.1 What is Decision Making? 6.2 Barriers to Good Decision Making 6.3 Decision Making Process
Decision making is the cognitive process leading to the selection of a course of action among alternatives. Hasty, Narrow, Scattered and Fuzzy decision making.

1. 2. 3. 4. 5.

Define the decision clearly. Consider all the possible choices. Gather all relevant information and evaluate all the pros and cons of each possible choice. Select the choice that seems to best meet the needs of the situation. Implement a plan of action and then monitor the results, making necessary adjustments.

6.4 Decision Making Tools

CoRT SWOT Analysis Six Thinking Hats Decision Matrix Etc.

Any Questions?

The End

References
Online Resources Resource
Courseware - Module 4: Decision Making http://cw.unitar.edu.my/ugb2013/c4/index.htm Decision Making: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Decision_making SWOT Analysis: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SWOT_Analysis SWOT Tutorial: http://www.nelh.nhs.uk/folio/mchip/swot.pps SWOT Templates: http://www.businessballs.com/swotanalysisfreetemplate.htm Teacher in Bad Mood: http://www.sbac.edu/~tpl/clipart/Signs%20and%20Symbols/danger%200 2.jpg Punk: http://www.rarepunk.com/images/punkrocker2.jpg Siti Nurhaliza: http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c369/bukaninsanbiasa/ctmelayumera h.jpg Angry Teacher: http://www.webweaver.nu/clipart/img/education/angryteacher.gif