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Learning Outcomes
To help build my decision-making skill, when studying this chapter, I will attempt
to acquire:
◉ A fundamental understanding of the term decision
◉ Describe the steps in the decision-making process.
◉ An appreciation for the various situations in which decisions are made
◉ Explain the four ways managers make decisions.
◉ Describe different decision-making styles
◉ An understanding of probability theory and decision trees as decision-making
tools
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Decision-making skill is the ability to choose alternatives
that increase the likelihood of accomplishing objectives
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FUNDAMENTALS OF DECISIONS
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Types of Decisions
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Programmed Versus
Non-programmed Decisions
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Decision Making Conditions
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Decision Making without Probabilities
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Decision-Making Styles
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1.Recognition of Decision Requirement
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2. Diagnosis and Analysis of Causes
◉ Diagnosis is the step in the decision-making process in which managers analyze underlying
causal factors associated with the decision situation.
◉ Managers ask a series of questions to specify underlying causes, including the following
◉ What is the state of disequilibrium affecting us?
◉ When did it occur?
◉ Where did it occur?
◉ How did it occur?
◉ To whom did it occur?
◉ What is the urgency of the problem?
◉ What is the interconnectedness of events?
◉ What result came from which activity?
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Development of Alternatives
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4. Selection of the Desired Alternative
◉ In this stage, managers try to select the most promising of several alternative courses
of action.
The best alternative solution is the one that best fits the overall goals and values of the
organization and achieves the desired results using the fewest resources
Selection
◉ Least amount of risk and uncertainty
◉ Try to gauge the prospect of success
◉ Rely on their intuition and experience
◉ Depends on mangers 'personality
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Four Criteria to Evaluate Alternative course of
action
◉ Legality
◉ Ethicalness
◉ Economic feasibility
◉ Practicality
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5. Implementation of the Chosen Alternative
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How Managers Make Decisions
Because they can’t possibly analyze all information on all alternatives, managers
satisfice, rather than maximize. That is, they accept solutions that are “good
enough.” They’re being rational within the limits (bounds) of their ability to
process information.
Escalation of commitment an increased commitment to a previous decision
despite evidence it may have been wrong
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How Managers Make Decisions
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Decision Making Tools
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Probability Theory
◉ Probability theory is a decision-making tool used in risk situations—situations in which decision
makers are not completely sure of the outcome of an implemented alternative.
◉ Probability refers to the likelihood that an event or outcome will actually occur. It is estimated by
calculating an expected value for each alternative considered.
◉ Specifically, the expected value (EV) for an alternative is the income (I ) that alternative would
produce, multiplied by its probability of producing that income (P). In formula form, EV = I×P.
◉ Decision makers generally choose and implement the alternative with the highest expected value
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Decision Tree
◉ A decision tree is a graphic decision-making tool typically used
to evaluate decisions involving a series of steps.
◉ These steps are interdependent; that is, each step is influenced by
the step that precedes it.
Example
A decision tree for a pizza restaurant deciding between two options:
■ Option 1: to open a second restaurant
■ Option 2: to add a takeaway and delivery service to their existing restaurant
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Decision Tree
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Why Do Managers Make Bad Decisions?
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