Our Way to Decision
Making
Prepared by: Gerlie P. Bravo
Decisions Are Inevitable
A not-so-famous song entitled "Sangandaan" (Crossroad) speaks of
making decisions. To paraphrase the song, it says our life is not
complicated until we reach a crossroad. At the crossroad, we are
confronted with different roads and we need to decide which road to
take. Then the song continues, saying our decision may
either make us happy or sad.
We cannot avoid making decisions in life. A decision is a choice we
do after considering different alternatives. For example, if we are
buying a book, we go to a bookstore and consider two to three
choices. We scan them and evaluate which one can respond to our
needs. Once we know our choice, we decide.
The Process of Arriving at a Decision
However, reaching the point of decision is not easy. We have to go
through decision-making, which is the process of identifying
problems and opportunities and resolving them. Of course, the
process is not easy. There are steps to arrive at a decision.
First, we must ask ourselves: "What is our problem?" It is
important to recognize that a problem needs to be solved. Awareness
of the problem is our first step to making a decision. In this stage of
the decision process, we look at all the factors and see on how the
problem arose. We search for causes and effects; and we look
for possible answers.
Second, we determine, diagnose, and analyze the
causes of the problem. We do this by gathering
information so we can determine how a certain
problem occurs. At this point in time, we ask
questions like: "When, where, and how did the
problem occur?" We must gather as much facts as we
can. We must interview people who may have been
through the same problem so that we can look at the
problem objectively.
Third, we must ask: "What are the alternatives?" At
this stage of decision making, we list down possible
solutions to the problem. We must not yet remove
solutions we think are not feasible. Rather, we must
put on paper all possible ways to address the
problem so we do not miss out on good ideas. We
must brainstorm with as many people as possible.
We must be open even with a child, since the latter
could give great suggestions on certain problems.
Fourth, we must reflect on our values. We ask
ourselves, "What things do matter to us? What
conditions would reflect our ideals in life? What is
important to us?" Knowing our values would surely
allow decision making easier for us. When we know
which thing we give more importance to, we would
know which to choose from among the available
solutions.
Fifth, once we have listed choices, we must
select. The choice is usually the selection of the
most promising alternative. It is based on our
values and goals in life. We must also consider
how much risk we are willing to take. To make
the choosing easier, we must be able to rank our
options from one to five, after considering the
pros and cons; then we choose the first in rank.
Sixth, once we have chosen our course of action, we
must implement the chosen alternative. Here, we
must carry out our choice. We must not waver. If we
need other people's help in implementing our choice,
we must seek them out. It would help if we have a
plan to carry out our chosen alternative. Listing
specific steps to implement our decision would help
in the whole process of decision making.
Seventh, we must be able to evaluate our chosen
alternative. In the evaluation stage of the decision-making
process, we gather as much data to determine how the
decision was implemented. A feedback mechanism is
needed here because decision-making is a continuing
process where different and new factors may be
considered for possible changes.
Finally, relax. After going through the process of
decision-making, we lift everything up to God and let
God be God.
Reasons for Bad Decisions
The eight steps of decision-making are effective ways
to arrive at a decision. These steps help us chart our
capacity to solve problems. However, despite the eight
steps, we still make bad decisions. Richard Daft in his
book New Era of Management said, "Most bad decisions
are errors of judgment that originate in the human mind's
limited capacity" and natural biases. Daft cited six biases
that cause us to make bad decisions, namely:
1. Our initial impression influences us.
We are usually biased for or against the
first data that come to our hands. For
example, hearing that a book was not
well-written, this information would
usually influence us in to thinking that
the book is indeed, not well-written.
2. Our decisions are sometimes simply
justification of our past actions. We sometimes
commit mistakes. To justify those mistakes, we
adopt decisions which we think would cover up
the mistakes. Rather than committing more
mistakes, let us immediately correct what we
have done and refrain from multiplying them
by committing more mistakes.
3. We just see what we want to see. Often, we
refuse to acknowledge information or data that
may be against our initial point of view. We give
little consideration on information that
contradicts our stand. Here, we must remember
that our choices may not really be the best
choice and looking at data which contradict our
choice may help us review our earlier decision.
4. We want to choose solutions that have been effective in
the past. This is another bias that prevents us from arriving
to a sound decision. Sometimes, we stick to a solution that
has been used for ten years. Because of the length of time,
we decide against changing it. We reason out that it is timetested. But we must be open to change, since change is the
only constant thing in life. Let us be creative, as along the
way, we could meet new avenues to solve problems.
5 . We sometimes respond to a problem based on how a
problem is framed. We think that because a problem was
similarly framed with an earlier problem, the solution would be
the same. Similarity in the problem does not necessarily mean
in solutions. Again, we must look at all the factors before
deciding.
6. We can become overconfident. Sometimes, overconfidence
prevents us from seeing the problem’s solution from another
point of view. We insist that we know the solutions to our
problems, but only to find out that our problem has grown
bigger. It is not bad to be confident what is not good is
overconfidence.
Activity
The SWOT Analysis In management courses, one of the strategies to determine our
preparedness to decide is the SWOT analysis. This analysis includes a search for
strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats that may affect us as a person or as a
group.
Strengths are our positive internal characteristics that we can exploit to achieve
maximum performance. Weaknesses are our internal characteristics that might
prevent us to give our best. Threats are external factors that may prevent us from
achieving our goals. Opportunities are external factors that may potentially help us
achieve our goals.
As we make decisions in life, we must be aware of our SWOT. Below is a box with
four segregations, namely strengths, weaknesses, threats, opportunities. Write in each
box characteristics that describe your strengths, weaknesses, threats, and opportunities.
Reflect on your answers. After listing all your
strengths, weakness, threat, and opportunities,
ask yourself the following”
1. Why are these strengths?
2. Why are these weaknesses?
3. Why are these considered threats?
4. Why are these considered opportunities.