ENGINEERING MANAGEMENT

ASSIGNMENT NO. 2
1. Describe at least 3 points in the decision-making process at which information
plays an important role.

In the decision-making process these key points are essential:

 Identify the problem or situation - The first step is the most vital since this
process will start the process by clearly defining the nature of the decision
you must make.
 Research the problem – Collecting all the necessary information is as
important since this will be the basis of the process you shall take, without
complete information and basis, understanding the problem would be
tricky. Once you’ve understood the problem, you may find that you need
more information at your fingertips in order to begin to address it.
 Consider the nature of the problem – With all the facts and information you
have gathered, this will provide the reason for what causing your difficulty,
and what immediate solution you shall partake in.

2. Identify one big problem that your company has experienced. Prepare a
complete report using the eight process of decision-making.

Since it is continuously raining nowadays, our project deadline has been

delayed. So, with this problem, we have to think of a viable solution to explain
and stretch the said target to our client. Based on the decision-making process
this is what we came up with:

Step 1: Identify the problem – The project was delayed and we

cannot commit to the agreed deadline.

Step 2: Identify decision criteria - Due to severe rain and super

typhoons targeting Quezon province. This is based on the reports
from the NDRRMC and the provincial disaster management
operation center.

Step 3: Allocating weight criteria – We will provide weather reports

from PAGASA for the past month’s Typhoon watch as well as the
amount of rainfall we had experienced.

Step 4: Developing Alternative – After the super typhoon we will try

to increase our working hours but still be grounded on the worker’s
capacity as well as provide additional manpower and equipment.
 Step 5: Evaluating decision effectiveness – Since work has been
behind schedule and the workers’ pay is based on the work
rendered per day. I think they will agree on an additional working
hour that will be added to help with their daily expenses as well.
And if the budget allows, additional manpower and equipment will
also be prioritized.

Step 6: Implement Alternatives – We will provide advance payment

for the workers to compensate for the lost days they had due to
severe rain to give them the motivation to work extra.

Step 7: Selecting Alternatives – If ever the said alternative will be

less effective, we will also ask for the client’s approval regarding the
extension of the deadline, providing the data collected from
PAGASA and NDRRMC to prove our claims.

Step 8: Analyzing Alternatives – Since the solution is not yet

completed because rainfall is still present, the alternative provided
will only be supported by data and clear communication will be
disseminated to ensure our team understands and commits to the
plan.

3. Answer the questions in Case analysis of Boom and Bust in

Telecommunications.

1) Because all their strategic plans are remarkably similar.

2) For they believed that surging demand would catch up with the capacity
but since it was a gold rush and like any other business, those only who
are first into the field would benefit from it.
3) I think steps 4 and 5, listing pros and cons as well as weighing the
evidence. Because maybe if they have to enumerate all the possible
solutions that they had to think of, then list out the pros and cons of the
approach. They could have done it while thinking through the long-term
consequences, and being as objective as possible.
4) Maybe they could have just waited for how WorldCom, who started it will
turn out. And not jumping to the conclusion that the demand will far
outstrip the supply. And if 1 or 2 companies have already done the same,
they should have not followed that strategic plan anymore.
5) Maybe not, for the reason that they have misallocated their investment
and jumped to conclusions without thinking about the good of the
company. Some aspects of this basis I identified are part of their decision-
making process. If maybe they could have improved the selection of
 investment projects and not thought of the competitive pressures. They
had overly optimistic expectations concerning productivity just because
the largest network of Internet backbone stated the need for it so they all
ventured out with the same strategic plans.
6) One good example is given Kodak ‘s problem, the company went under in
2012 because it didn’t change its strategy with the market. The print
processing methods are out to date and technologies are ahead of the
competition but they did not act fast. They underestimated the importance
of the people in strategic change. Because the management decided that
the technology wouldn’t disrupt the market so a change was unnecessary.
They had 10 years to act but didn’t. I believe that poor planning and
decision-making played into their errors. Since their leaders are reluctant,
they were not able to see the bigger picture. I believed that leaders are the
catalyst of change, and the people of the organization will not carry your
vision and turns it into reality if you yourself don’t adapt to change and
accept technological development.