Decision

Process
Not momentary; divided
into phases or stages
I. CONDORCET
3 stages:
First stage – opinions are personal; no
attempts are made to form a majority
Second stage – decision is reduced to a
choice between manageable set of
alternatives
Third stage – actual choice between a
manageable set of alternatives
Marquis De Condorce (1973-1794)
– French philosopher
II. MODERN SEQUENTIAL MODELS
5 stages:
(1) a felt difficulty
(2) the definition of the character of that difficulty
(3) suggestion of possible solutions
(4) evaluation of the suggestion
(5) further observation and experiment leading to
acceptance or rejection of the suggestion

John Dewey (1910)

– American philosopher
II. MODERN SEQUENTIAL MODELS

3 stages:
Intelligence - finding occasions for making a
decision
Design - finding possible courses of action
Choice - choosing among courses of action

Herbert Simon (1960)

– American economist
II. MODERN SEQUENTIAL MODELS
Brim, et al. (1962)

5 stages:
1. Identification of the problem
2. Obtaining necessary information
3. Production of possible solutions
4. Evaluation of such solutions
5. Selection of a strategy for performance
 I want to be the top
student in class, so that
parents will be very happy
and give me a reward.
However, I am always the
second.

1. A felt difficulty
 I am smart and
studious, but I do not
get excellent grades in
most of my subjects.

2. the definition of
the character of
that difficulty
a. I will see a tutor every week.
b. I will study harder. I will
relearn and review what I
already studied at least twice.
c. I will plan my time wisely and
pick a place and time that is
conducive to my studying.

(3) suggestion of
possible solutions
I can understand and learn easily
on my own, so hiring a tutor is
unnecessary. I can always just
call a friend.
Also, I am already studious; thus,
I should not drain myself even
more by studying all the time. I
should study smarter nor harder.
Thus, I shall study effectively and
efficiently by planning my study
time and place.
(4) evaluation of the
suggestion
 My bedroom or the living room is
definitely not an appropriate place
to study because of many
distractions, such as the
television, gadgets, family
members as well as the sofa or
bed. The library or sometimes the
café provide a quiet and serious
place for me to study.
(5) further observation and
experiment leading to
acceptance or rejection of
the suggestion
 III. NON-SEQUENTIAL MODELS
Mintzberg, Raisinghani, and Théoêret (1976) – decision process
consists of distinct phases, but these phases do not have a simple
sequential relationship

3 stages:
Identification phase. (1) decision recognition (2) diagnosis
Development phase. To define and clarify the options. (1) search
routine (2) design routine
Selection. (1) Screen routine (2) Second routine (3) Authorization
The relationships between the phases and routines of a
decision process, according to Mintzberg et al (1976)
A comparison of the stages of the decision process according
to Condorcet, Simon, Mintzberg et al and Brim et al