Inspiring Holistic Transformation
UNIVERSITY OF BLANTYRE SYNOD
PROGRAMME:
BUSINESS MANAGEMENT
COURSE CODE:
BCBM 413
COURSE TITLE:
OPERATIONS MANAGEMENT
STUDENT NAME:
THOM ASIKI
LECTURER:
DR. W. BINALI
DUE DATE:
12TH MARCH 2023
YEAR:
4TH YEAR, 1ST SEMESTER
EXERCISE NUMBER
1
EXPLAINING STEPS IN DECISION MAKING PROCESS
Decision-making is regarded as the cognitive process resulting in the selection of a belief or a
course of action among several possible alternative options. It could be either rational or
irrational. The decision-making process is a reasoning process based on assumptions
of values, preferences and beliefs of the decision-maker. Every decision-making process
produces a final choice, which may or may not prompt action. (Encylopedia, 2023)
A decision-making process is a series of steps taken by an individual to determine the best option
or course of action to meet their needs. In a business context, it is a set of steps taken by
managers in an enterprise to determine the planned path for business initiatives and to set
specific actions in motion. Ideally, business decisions are based on an analysis of objective facts,
aided by the use of business intelligence (BI) and analytics tools. (Brush, 2023)
Using a step-by-step decision-making process can help you make more deliberate, thoughtful
decisions by organizing relevant information and defining alternatives. This approach increases
the chances that you will choose the most satisfying alternative possible. (Karin, 2017)
Identifying the decision is the first step whereby a decision maker realizes a need to make a
decision by trying to clearly define the nature of the decision they must make. (Charles, 2016)
Gathering relevant information is the second step of decision making process whereby collection
of some pertinent information is involved to measure what information is needed, the best
sources of information, and how to get it. This step involves both internal and external. Internal
information is obtained through a process of self-assessment while external is acquired through
online, books, other people, and other sources. (Bromely, 2017)
Identifying the alternatives is the third step of decision making process whereby several possible
paths of action or alternatives are identified during the collection of information. The use of
imagination and additional information is also used to construct new information. (UMass
Dartmouth, 2023)
Weighing the evidence is the fourth step of decision making process whereby identified multiple
alternatives are weighed to identify potential pitfalls and the possible rewards through checking
other people and companies done in the past to succeed in these areas and take a good look at
your organization’s own wins and losses. (UMass Dartmouth, 2023)
Choosing among alternatives is the step of the decision-making process where the actual
decision is made hopefully after identifying the best alternatives from gathered relevant
information. (study.com, 2023)
Taking action and decision review is the last step by which the decision made is put into action
and to develop a plan on how it may work better there by making it tangible and achievable.
(UMass Dartmouth, 2023)
Decision making is therefore indeed the process of making choices by identifying a decision,
gathering information, and assessing alternative resolutions using a step-by-step decision-making
process which can help to make more deliberate, thoughtful decisions by organizing relevant
information and defining alternatives.
References
Bromely, P. (2017).
Brush, K. (2023).
Charles, D. (2016).
Encylopedia. (2023). Decision Making Process.
Karin, B. (n.d.). 2017.
Karin, B. (2017).
study.com. (2023).
UMass Dartmouth. (2023). Decision Making Process.