DECISION MAKING

Through the act of “decision-making”, someone can choose among alternatives that are already available. In day-to-day life, Not only in normal lives but also in every organization a huge number of decisions are taken by managerial posts and all of those play a key role. In this context, the “decision-making process” plays a major role, if people utilize these steps of the “decision-making process” then it will be easy to select the best one. 

Definition of decision making

“Decision-making” is considered as a process in which at first a decision-maker needs to identify a decision, collect information and assess what are the alternative resolutions. After completing these steps the decision-maker has to make a choice. The “step-by-step” process of “decision-making” needs to be done by decision-makers so that they can make more thoughtful decisions. Chances of making the most satisfying and suitable alternatives can be increased by this approach.

In day-to-day life, every human being takes an uncountable number of decisions. People need to go through the steps of “decision-making” when they face any kind of problem and they have to choose between more than one solution. If people find only one alternative then they do not need to go through the process of “decision-making”. There is a myth about management that “a man without a backbone” is the same as “management without decisions”. “Decision-making” acts as an approach that is used to solve problems by selecting the most suitable alternative among various.

Concept of the “decision-making process”

“Decision-making process” has seven steps:

Step 1: Recognize the issue

People need to recognize what is the main issue that has to be fixed while identifying the decision. Then they need to decide the goal that they want to achieve after implementation of the decision. At last, they have to think about what will be the measurement for them to measure the success. All of these questions help everyone to set their goals and find satisfying solutions for them. 

Step 2: Collect relevant data 

Collecting relevant data and information about the decision is considered the most important step of the “decision-making process”. Everyone needs to collect relevant information about the decision that they want to take so that they can analyze and check what solution is best for them. 

If an organization needs to take an important decision, then decision-makers of that organization have to search and gather information from other organizations. This will be easy for that organization to make the proper decision if they go through what other organizations did to overcome such a situation. 

Step 3: Recognize alternatives

People have to identify what are the alternatives that can be considered as a solution as the third step of the “decision-making process”. If it comes to an organizational decision-making process then that organization has to find more than one solution so that different requirements of stakeholders can be fulfilled. 

Step 4: Identifying the most relevant evidence

In this step of the “decision-making process”, the decision-maker has to analyze all of the collected alternatives and recognize what is the most suitable solution for the problem to be solved. In this step, the decision-maker has to identify the cons and pros of every solution and eliminate inappropriate ones.

Step 5: Select the most appropriate one

In this step, the decision-maker has to take the final decision by choosing the most suitable one among all of the collected alternatives. Along with this decision-maker also has to think about how this chosen solution will affect the decision. 

Step 6: Implementation 

When the final decision is taken then the next step will be to take required actions. Therefore, people need to set an implementation plan for how that chosen solution will work.

Step 7: Review time

As the last step of the “decision-making process”, the decision-maker has to analyze if the taken solution and implemented action worked out or not. 

Decision making meaning and importance

“Decision-making meaning” in workplace reforms that without a “decision-making process” management cannot work at all. “Decision-making process” is important and all of the steps of this need to be done properly to choose the best solution out of available ones. If an individual or an organization fails any of the steps then they have to face the negative impact of their decision.

Types of decision making

There are four “types of decision-making” that can be used either by an individual or an organization such as directive, conceptual, analytical and behavioral. 

Conclusion

It can be concluded that decision-making is a crucial task to be achieved in everyday life. Therefore, it becomes really important to take the right decision in life as a negative decision can affect a life badly. Not only an individual but also an organization has to make various kinds of decisions. In order to make the right decision, everyone has to follow the steps of “decision-making” so that they will not regret it after implementing the chosen decision. As the definition of “decision-making” depicts, people have to walk on the path of the “decision-making process” only if they have more than one alternative solution.