Decision making is a process of identifying and evaluating choices. The three types of decisions we make are: routine, impulsive, and reasoned. Deciding what to eat for breakfast is a routine decision; deciding to do or buy something at the last minute is considered an impulsive decision; and choosing your career is, hopefully, a reasoned decision. Below are some tips to refine your reasoned decision-making process.
Decision making has much in common with problem solving. In problem solving you identify and evaluate solution paths; in decision making you make a similar discovery and evaluation of alternatives. As you weigh alternatives, use the following suggestions:
· Consider the outcome each is likely to produce, in both the short term and the long term.
· Compare alternatives based on how easily you can accomplish each.
· Evaluate possible negative side effects each may produce.
· Consider the risk involved in each.
· Be creative, original; don’t eliminate alternatives because you have not heard or used them before.
A comparison analysis is a great tool to help work out the importance of certain aspects of the decision. It’s a way to compare apples to oranges, so to speak. It helps to prioritize objective data when you have different, subjective options. Selecting between candidates for an open job position is a good example of this tool in action, where you are comparing qualifications, skills, and experience against your desired position.
First, make a list of the aspects you want to compare. Assign each aspect a letter of importance (A is most important / relevant; B is second, and so on). Try to keep the list to five or fewer options. If you have more than that, some of the aspects may be facets of the same thing, or may not truly be relevant to the decision. In our example, let’s say Computer Skills, Teamwork, Warehouse Experience, Management Experience, and Problem-Solving are the five aspects, in order or importance.
Second, write the options in columns across the top. In our sample, it would be the candidates you are comparing, let’s say Amy, Tom, and Mike.
Third, rank each option according to the aspect on the left. If you have three options, you would assign each option according to the aspect a number one (lowest) through three (highest, or most like). This part is subjective, and that’s ok. You may need to write out your defense of the ranking, or talk it through with someone else. This process will organize your thoughts and help reinforce your ranking.
Amy
|
Tom
|
Mike
| ||
Computer Skills
|
A
|
3
|
1
|
2
|
Teamwork
|
B
|
1
|
2
|
3
|
Warehouse Experience
|
C
|
1
|
2
|
3
|
Management Experience
|
D
|
3
|
2
|
1
|
Problem-Solving
|
E
|
2
|
3
|
1
|
Fourth, give the rankings a weighted score. To assign weight to each aspect, use a multiplier of 1 plus the number of aspects being compared. For example, if there are five aspects, the “A” aspect would have a multiplier of 1.5, the “B” aspect would have a multiplier of 1.4, etc. Multiply the option’s ranking times the multiplier. Total the weighted scores, the option with the highest score would be the one to choose.
Weight
|
Amy
|
Tom
|
Mike
| ||
Computer Skills
|
A
|
1.5
|
4.5
|
1.5
|
3
|
Teamwork
|
B
|
1.4
|
1.4
|
2.8
|
4.2
|
Warehouse Experience
|
C
|
1.3
|
1.3
|
2.6
|
3.9
|
Management Experience
|
D
|
1.2
|
3.6
|
2.4
|
1.2
|
Problem-Solving
|
E
|
1.1
|
2.2
|
3.3
|
1.1
|
Score
|
13
|
12.6
|
13.4
|
Another common decision-making tool is the “Pro – Con” approach. A branch-off of that is the Pro – Con – and Fix method. After listing the pros and cons, go through the list of cons and determine which ones can be mitigated, or fixed. Evaluate each Con to determine if it:
· truly impacts the result
· can be combined with another con
· can be eliminated, mitigated, or neutralized. Write the “fix” in a column to the right of the Cons.
There are as many methods of reaching a decision as there are decisions to make. Check out the quiz: How Good Are Your Decision-Making Skills to find out how you rate.
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