North South University
Undergraduate Programme
PAD 201: Introduction to Public Administration
DECISION MAKING
Course Teacher
Saifuddin Ahmed (SuA2)
Associate Professor
Department of Peace and Conflict Studies
Dhaka University
E-mail:saifuddin.ahmed@northsouth.edu
Decision Making
Decision Making
‘Decision Making’ as counter thesis of Focus
of Public Administration.
WHY ?
Decision Making
Decision making is to be the alternative of the principles (of
public administration)
Decision Making

Human behavior is ignored in the principles of administration

Universal principles of public administration is not possible

The study of PAD would be limited if it is confined to only the
principles.

Study of PAD only within formal organizations would bound PAD to be
more materialistic.

Study of PAD should be from comparative basis
Decision Making
What is Decision Making?
Decision Making
Definition of Decision Making
“Decision making is the selection of
behaviour alternative from two or more
possible alternatives” – Terry
Decision Making
Definition of Decision Making
“Decision making involves a conscious
choice or selection of one or more
behaviour alternatives” – Robert
Tennenbaum
Decision Making
Definition of Decision Making
“Decision Making is a cognitive process of
behaviouR” – Herbert Alexender Simon
Decision Making
Decision Making Process
Decision Making
Decision Making Process
Decision making is the process of making choices by identifying
a decision, gathering information, and assessing alternative resolutions.
Using a step-by-step decision-making process can help you to make a
more deliberate, thoughtful decisions by organizing relevant information
and defining alternatives.
Decision Making
Decision Making Process
1. Identifying the goals
2. Problem Identification
4. The Alternatives
5.The Consequences
Making Decision
6. Evaluation
Feedback, comparison & correction of goals
3.Gather Information
Decision Making
Step 1: Identify Your Goal
One of the most effective decision making strategies is to keep an eye on
your goal. Figuring out what’s most important to you will help you make
good decisions. When you know the reason why you have making a
Particular decision; it will better serve you in staying with it, and defending
it.
Step 2: Problem Identification
This simply means identifying the purpose of your decision by asking
yourself what exactly is the problem that needs to be solved? And why
does this problem need to be solved?
Decision Making
Step 3: Gather Information
When making good decisions it is best to gather necessary information that
is directly related to the problem. Doing this will help you to better
understand what needs to be done in solving the problem, and will also
help to generate ideas for a possible solution.
Step 4: Identifying the alternatives
When gathering information it is best to make a list of every possible
alternative; even ones that may initially sound silly or seem
unrealistic. You will want to gather as many resources as possible in order
to make the best decision.
Decision Making
Step 5: The Consequences
This step can be just as important as step one because it will help you to
determine how your final decision will impact yourself, and/or others involved. In
this step, you will be asking yourself what is likely to be the results of your
decision. How will it affect you now? And how will it affect your future?
Step 6: Making Decision
Now that you have identified your goal, gathered all necessary information, and
weighed the consequences, it is time to make a choice and actually execute
your final decision. Understanding that this step can cause some people a lot of
anxiety is important because this is where you have to trust your instincts.
Decision Making
Step 7: Evaluating the Decision
Once you have made your final decision and put it into action, it is
necessary to evaluate the decision and the steps you have taken to
ensure that it works. This final step is probably just as important as step
one, if not more important, because it will help you to further develop
your decision making skills for future problems. This step is also
fundamental because it may require you to seek out new information
and make some changes along the way.
Decision Making
The
Variables influence Decision Making Process
Emotion
Values
Decision
choice amongst from the alternatives
Politics
Knowledge
Politics is the process of the decision about who gets what, how and when
Decision Making
Simon’s Theories of Decision Making
Decision Making
Bounded Rationality
Satisficing Model
Decision Making
Herbert Simon (1916-2001) is the most famous for
what is known to economists as the theory of
bounded rationality, a theory about economic
decision-making that Simon himself preferred to
call “satisficing”, a combination of two words “satisfy” and “suffice”
Decision Making
Bounded Rationality
The individuals are limited to gather all information
because of:
Limited knowledge
Limited time
Limited by cost
Decision Making
Satisficing Model of Decision Making
There are three types of man found in making decision:
Economic man
– takes decision from economic gain
perspective
Social man
– takes decision from social values and
morale perspective
Administrative man – takes decision combining both economic
gain and social values and morale
perspectives
Decision Making
Satisficing Model of Decision Making
Economic man
Administrative man
Social man
The decision of Administrative man is rational.
So, Administrative man’s decision is called
satisficing or rational decision
Decision Making
Feedback
Thank You