Statement of Course of Action

The course of action is a proportionate step that is taken after an event or an event that is about to happen. It is one of the major topics in reasoning. In this type of reasoning, an appropriate statement is given and it is followed by two suitable actions. The actions are then evaluated logically to assess the suitable course of action that is feasible and useful in solving the problem. The chosen action needs to be correlated with the practical approach. 

Type of Questions in Course of Action

The questions can be divided into two principal types.

Problem and Solution Based Questions

In case the question is highlighting an adverse situation, a probable course of action needs to be chosen. Choosing the best course of action can be made easier by following these points,

1. The action needs to solve or at least minimizes the problems.

2. The solution is based on logic and practically deduced.

Sometimes the chosen course of action is probable for the question but is not possible in real life. In that case, the course of action is rejected as it is not practical. On the other hand, in case the course of action is already proved, then it is regarded as a universal fact.

Fact and Improvement Based Questions

In case the question describes a situation, then the course of action needs to be chosen to improve the state. In this type of question, the questions do not present any problems or obstacles. It contains two or more numbers of statements and each statement is followed by various courses of action. The statement needs to be analyzed and a suitable course of action needs to be chosen according to the deduction. In this case, there are more options to be chosen from and it can be more time-consuming than other types of reasoning. 

Steps to Solve Statement of Course of Action

1. The course of action needs to be unbiased. It needs to be devoid of the perspective of an individual. The deduction process needs to be focused on the overall view of the situation.

2. Individuals need to avoid including personal choices in identifying the probable action. The chosen course of action needs to be impartial to address the problem or situation properly. 

3. The pre-existing course of action is not always effective in this type of reasoning. 

4. In case the question presents a problem, the root of the issue needs to be found. 

5. Strict or extreme courses of action are not eligible for solving this type of question. The solution needs to be just and democratic. 

6. It needs to present positive aspects in solving the issue.

7. The course of action can either solve the problem or lessen its effects. It can be determined by utilizing several points such as experience, universal truth, and logic.

8. The practical option needs to be chosen as a course of action. A simple issue generally has a simple solution. The complex course of action might not be proportionate with the problem and not useful in reducing the adverse situation. 

9. The course of action needs to be positive in every aspect and further problems should not arise after the course of action. 

10. The course of action that can cause an unprecedented outcome needs to be avoided.

Key Points to Choose the Correct Course of Action

1. In most questions, there are multiple courses of action available for each statement and the options are not exclusive. In that case, the answers need to be “both follow” not “either of them follows”.

2. In case the problem and the course of action are properly balanced and the action is also practical, it can be followed as the course of action.

3. In case “only” is present after a course of action, the action might not be appropriate for solving the problem. The presence of “only” makes the course of action weak. It can be a probable indication to avoid choosing an unsuitable course of action.

4. The probable course of action needs to be affirmative. The harsh and negative course of action needs to be avoided. The course of action also needs to address democratic values. On the contrary, in case there are no other options available, then a strict course of action is needed to be followed.

5. A strict course of action needs to be essential for the improvement of the situation and the issues need to be solved. It may appear immoral, but for the betterment of the situation, it can be chosen.

6. There are always two courses of action for each statement and are denoted numerically. The statement needs to be assumed as true and the selection between two courses of action needs to be based on the information that can be deduced from the given statement.

Conclusion

Statement and course of action are often used in government exams to evaluate the ability of the aspirants to identify the core issue and provide a probable solution. This type of reasoning question is frequent in bank and insurance exams. It is purely based on logic and tests the ability of the participant to deduce the problem from the given statement and choose the proportionate course of action for solving or lessening the difficulty.