The following CASE questions are all based on the Management 11th Edition by

Stephen P. Robbins, Mary Coulter textbook. You are required to cite one or two

related concepts or content from the textbook before analyzing the case. Please

highlight the citations you make by using colored text, Or underline the citations.
 Answer & Explanation

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Answered by kpdhanani27

1. I would like to characterize this television programming decisions as an

unstructured decision. Because according to the text, this decision was something

that they had never been done before. Unstructured decisions are the non-

programmed decisions that are happening for the first time that require a custom-

made solution. These types of decisions are new or unusual and unique. The risk of

taking this decisions is usually high. I would like to consider this type of decision-

making condition as an uncertainty condition because in the text it shows that

when they are making this decision, they did not know if the decision will work or

not, they don't know if the viewers like the program or not. Uncertainty decision is

a situation in which the dicision maker is not certain and can not make an accurate

decision because they can't make a reasonable probability.

2. The criteria that NBC use in evaluating its initial decision to move Leno and

O'Brien is the cost of production. To produce a comedy-variety-shows is much

more cheaper than to produce 60 minutes scripted dramas. I think that criteria was

not that appropriate because before they take this decision, they should have take

some survey of some viewers if they would watch the show in primetime or not.
3. Jeff Gaspin's decision-making style is non-linear thinking style. Because in his

statement "I don't think it's wrong to take chances. . . . Sometimes they work.

Sometimes they don't.", It says that Jeff is a risk taker. Jeff took risks in order to

maximize their profit. When you take risks, rewards will follow. Unfortunately,

loss will follow if risks are not carefully considered. It shows that he is taking the

final decision using his own feeling and his own intuition, without using his logical

thinking and the information or facts he got.

4.

a.) Rationality:- NBC should have taken into account all the probable causes of the

problem to make a more appropriate solution. It is also fairly logical to consider

which aspects will be affected when a decision, or in the case a risk, is made!

taken.

b.) Bounded Rationality:- NBC could have just tried to increase the staff's

commitment to the show. This way, it will make the show better. Therefore, it will

get higher ratings which actually means greater profit. In lieu of saving money, the

show could just make more money.

c.) Intuition: If NBC made the decision based on their experience, they might not

have taken the risk knowing what the consequences are. NBC only considered

budget as their criteria and it was inappropriate. They only considered it because it

was the current drawback in their company. Relevant criterias should be made

because they greatly affect the company's decision-making.

d.) Evidence-based management: If NBC used the best available evidence and

relevant data's upon making the decision, they could have come up with a more

appropriate solution. In this case, there were no available evidences that changing

the show's format is the best way to cut the budget.

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