Decision Making

These decisions can be as routine as when to get out of bed, hat to eat for lunch, or when to exercise, or decisions can be as significant as what career to pursue or where to live. Whether making a decision about something fairly routine or a major life event, making good decisions takes time, practice, and conscious thought. Definition of Decision Making Decision making is the process of choosing what to do by considering the possible consequences of different choices (Brockman & Russell, 2009; Walker, 2001 a).The decision making process is a tool that can help you or your family members reach goals, gain greater control ver your life, and help you be more satisfied with the quality of your life (Walker, 2001 b). Factors Influencing Decision Making Making decisions can be complex because of the large amount of factors that Influence the declslon making process (Brockman & Russell, 2009). Some factors are specific to you as an Individual such as your values, goals, and priorities. O ther factors are external such as When making decisions it is important to understand how these influences impact the process.Goal setting is important to the decision making rocess because it can help determine options and set a course of action. Specifically, goals are the end result that an individual, family, or community works toward (Walker, 2001). Goals can be divided into short-term and long-term. Short-term goals are defined as something you hope to achieve within six months, while long-term goals are something you hope to achieve in a time period longer than six months. An example of a short-term goal is organizing your home office space, and an example of a long-term goal is saving money for a new car.Personal values also impact decision making. Values are something you believe that impacts your behavior. Examples of values include honesty, education, good health, or financial security. Values help determine Extension is a Division of the Institute of Agriculture and Natu ral Resources at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln cooperating with the Counties and the United States Department of Agriculture. University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension educational programs abide with the nondiscrimination policies of the University of Nebraska- Lincoln and the United States Department of Agriculture. 2012, The Board of Regents of the University of Nebraska on behalf of the University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension. All rights reserved. options and consequences of options in the decision making process. For example, if you highly value financial security, you will make decisions that will include having adequate savings and/or keeping expenses to a minimum. Steps of the Decision Making Process 1. State the problem or situation. The decision making process begins with a situation or problem to be addressedor solved. It can be helpful to write down the problem. 2. Consider your goals and values.The goals you set or yourself are influenced by your values. Knowing you r values and goals will help you determine what is desired. 3. Determine the options. Look for as many options as possible to solve your problem or situation. Be creative as you think about options. The more options you think of, the more likely it is that you will find a solution that fits your situation. When thinking about options, seek out information from friends, 4. Consider the consequences or list the pros and the cons of each option. In this step it is helpful to think about the positive and negative outcomes of doing ach option.To help you determine the pros and cons of each option, consider your personal goals and values and what resources, such as time, money, or knowledge, will be needed. Then, list the pros and cons of each option. 5. Select the best option. Based on the positive and negative consequences of each alternative, select the option that best fits your goals, values, and available resources. 6. Act upon the decision. After making a decision it is important t o put that decision into action. It can be helpful to create action steps listing how you plan to arry out your decision. . Accept responsibility. When you make a decision it is important to accept responsibility for that decision and the consequences that are associated with it. 8. Evaluate the results. The last step of the process is to analyze the results or outcomes of your decision. This analysis will help you determine the effectiveness of the decision making process. Helping Others Make Decisions Making good decisions is important not only for you but for your family. Helping others learn to make good decisions is an important life skill you can teach.For xample, helping a young child make a decision about eating fruits and vegetables gives them practice in making decisions. The more often young people engage in the steps of the decision making process, the better they will be at using them. Here are some tips for helping young children and youth use the decision making proce ss: Practice making decisions in situations they encounter daily, such as what to eat for school lunch. Make decisions, using the process, as a family. For example, decide where to go for vacation or what gift to give a grandparent for their birthday.Share with children how you use the decision making process in your life and how you evaluate your decisions. Have your child or family member set short-term and long term goals to help the decision making Conclusion: Making decisions is a part of daily living. Using the decision making process can help individuals and families reach goals, use resources wisely, and contribute to a healthy lifestyle. Resources: You can learn more about the decision making processdiscussed in this lesson in the following materials Brockman, M. S. , & Russell, S. T. (2009). Decision-making/ easoning skills.Building Partnerships for Youth: National 4-H Council and the University of Arizona Walker, K. (2001 a). Decision Making, K-State Research and Extensio n, Manhattan, KS Walker, K. (2001 b). Goal Setting. K-State Research and Extension, Manhattan, KS Walker, K. , Torres, Nayda, Turner, J. (2006). Make up Your Mind†lmproving Your Decision Making Skills. University of Florida IFAS Extension, Gainesville, FL Source: Steps of the Decision Making Process adapted from: Make up Your Mind† Improving Your Decision Making Skills, University of Florida IFAS Extension.The Board of Regents of the University of Nebraska. All rights reserved. The Steps of the Decision Making Process Decision Making Process Worksheet 2. 3. 4. 5. State the problem or situation. Consider your goals and values. Determine the options. Consider the consequences or list the pros and the cons of each option. Select the best option. 7. Accept responsibility. 8. Evaluate the results. Steps of the decision making process adapted from: Make up Your Mind†lmproving Your Decision Making Skills, University of Florida IFAS Extension. Decision Making These decisions can be as routine as when to get out of bed, hat to eat for lunch, or when to exercise, or decisions can be as significant as what career to pursue or where to live. Whether making a decision about something fairly routine or a major life event, making good decisions takes time, practice, and conscious thought. Definition of Decision Making Decision making is the process of choosing what to do by considering the possible consequences of different choices (Brockman & Russell, 2009; Walker, 2001 a).The decision making process is a tool that can help you or your family members reach goals, gain greater control ver your life, and help you be more satisfied with the quality of your life (Walker, 2001 b). Factors Influencing Decision Making Making decisions can be complex because of the large amount of factors that Influence the declslon making process (Brockman & Russell, 2009). Some factors are specific to you as an Individual such as your values, goals, and priorities. O ther factors are external such as When making decisions it is important to understand how these influences impact the process.Goal setting is important to the decision making rocess because it can help determine options and set a course of action. Specifically, goals are the end result that an individual, family, or community works toward (Walker, 2001). Goals can be divided into short-term and long-term. Short-term goals are defined as something you hope to achieve within six months, while long-term goals are something you hope to achieve in a time period longer than six months. An example of a short-term goal is organizing your home office space, and an example of a long-term goal is saving money for a new car.Personal values also impact decision making. Values are something you believe that impacts your behavior. Examples of values include honesty, education, good health, or financial security. Values help determine Extension is a Division of the Institute of Agriculture and Natu ral Resources at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln cooperating with the Counties and the United States Department of Agriculture. University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension educational programs abide with the nondiscrimination policies of the University of Nebraska- Lincoln and the United States Department of Agriculture. 2012, The Board of Regents of the University of Nebraska on behalf of the University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension. All rights reserved. options and consequences of options in the decision making process. For example, if you highly value financial security, you will make decisions that will include having adequate savings and/or keeping expenses to a minimum. Steps of the Decision Making Process 1. State the problem or situation. The decision making process begins with a situation or problem to be addressedor solved. It can be helpful to write down the problem. 2. Consider your goals and values.The goals you set or yourself are influenced by your values. Knowing you r values and goals will help you determine what is desired. 3. Determine the options. Look for as many options as possible to solve your problem or situation. Be creative as you think about options. The more options you think of, the more likely it is that you will find a solution that fits your situation. When thinking about options, seek out information from friends, 4. Consider the consequences or list the pros and the cons of each option. In this step it is helpful to think about the positive and negative outcomes of doing ach option.To help you determine the pros and cons of each option, consider your personal goals and values and what resources, such as time, money, or knowledge, will be needed. Then, list the pros and cons of each option. 5. Select the best option. Based on the positive and negative consequences of each alternative, select the option that best fits your goals, values, and available resources. 6. Act upon the decision. After making a decision it is important t o put that decision into action. It can be helpful to create action steps listing how you plan to arry out your decision. . Accept responsibility. When you make a decision it is important to accept responsibility for that decision and the consequences that are associated with it. 8. Evaluate the results. The last step of the process is to analyze the results or outcomes of your decision. This analysis will help you determine the effectiveness of the decision making process. Helping Others Make Decisions Making good decisions is important not only for you but for your family. Helping others learn to make good decisions is an important life skill you can teach.For xample, helping a young child make a decision about eating fruits and vegetables gives them practice in making decisions. The more often young people engage in the steps of the decision making process, the better they will be at using them. Here are some tips for helping young children and youth use the decision making proce ss: Practice making decisions in situations they encounter daily, such as what to eat for school lunch. Make decisions, using the process, as a family. For example, decide where to go for vacation or what gift to give a grandparent for their birthday.Share with children how you use the decision making process in your life and how you evaluate your decisions. Have your child or family member set short-term and long term goals to help the decision making Conclusion: Making decisions is a part of daily living. Using the decision making process can help individuals and families reach goals, use resources wisely, and contribute to a healthy lifestyle. Resources: You can learn more about the decision making processdiscussed in this lesson in the following materials Brockman, M. S. , & Russell, S. T. (2009). Decision-making/ easoning skills.Building Partnerships for Youth: National 4-H Council and the University of Arizona Walker, K. (2001 a). Decision Making, K-State Research and Extensio n, Manhattan, KS Walker, K. (2001 b). Goal Setting. K-State Research and Extension, Manhattan, KS Walker, K. , Torres, Nayda, Turner, J. (2006). Make up Your Mind†lmproving Your Decision Making Skills. University of Florida IFAS Extension, Gainesville, FL Source: Steps of the Decision Making Process adapted from: Make up Your Mind† Improving Your Decision Making Skills, University of Florida IFAS Extension.The Board of Regents of the University of Nebraska. All rights reserved. The Steps of the Decision Making Process Decision Making Process Worksheet 2. 3. 4. 5. State the problem or situation. Consider your goals and values. Determine the options. Consider the consequences or list the pros and the cons of each option. Select the best option. 7. Accept responsibility. 8. Evaluate the results. Steps of the decision making process adapted from: Make up Your Mind†lmproving Your Decision Making Skills, University of Florida IFAS Extension. Decision Making Decision Making Based on Mission and Vision of an Organization This case study deals with leadership, decision making, and effective communication. Also, how important it is for a President and the staff to work together in a team to solve a problem. Not every decision is the correct resolution, but there are better decisions made when there is a group effort. This discussion will be completed through an analysis of the case study on decision making based on Mission and Vision of an Organization.This discussion will determine the best decision making method, the final decision by the President, and how the decision will be communicated to the staff and the public. Community Medical Center is a medical facility dedicated to providing quality patient care with unrelenting attention to clinical excellence, patient safety and an unparalleled passion and commitment to assure the very best healthcare for those we serve. The decision for the President to decide about the case of an operatin g room nurse, who may have HIV/AIDS, would definitely be a difficult decision.The President needs to provide a news release in 24 hours, and this will put more pressure on making a quick resolution. This would be a difficult task and there is not much time to make a decision. The best solution would be to review the mission statement that the President has utilized, and review the decision making models that will help influence the best decision. Also, a meeting would need to take place with the staff to help decide the best way in figuring out a solution in 24 hours.The decision making models that will help the President in this situation are the Willful Choice Decision-Making Model and the Garbage Can Model. These models will help identify the issue and determine potential solutions. The Willful Choice Decision-Making Model is the first recommendation to help the President and the staff in determining the best solution. According to Johnson (2009) here are the six steps of the wil lful choice model. 1. Identify the problem 2. Collect data 3. List all possible solutions 4. Text possible solutions 5. Select the best course of action . Implement the solution based on the decision made (Johnson, 2009, p. 215). This is a very systematic approach that can help the President focus on the key issues in the decision making process. The problem is the nurse who contracted HIV/AIDS and how the hospital is at risk of losing the staff, and patients who will be transported to Community Medical Center’s local rival hospital. The President could gather the data and determine the outcome from each solution. The options are to remove the nurse from his position by relocating the employee to a non-patient area.Although, the nurse refused this offer and wants to continue working the same position. This appears to be an acceptable offer and the employee would continue working and receiving the same pay. The President and the staff would need to select the best course of ac tion, and implement the solution within 24 hours. Another problem is the concern of national media exposure by a main local newspaper. This would cause a major concern by patients and families and hurt the strong reputation of the hospital and the quality of the medical care (Johnson, 2009).The President and the staff have a dilemma where it appears that either option will affect the hospital, staff, and patients. In addition, there is only 24 hours to come up with a decision. Next, the members of the organization need to determine the best course of action, and to implement the best solution. There are four basic principles that are made by choice. They are unambiguous, probability and knowledge of consequences, a rational and consistent priority system for alternative ordering, and heuristics or decision rules to choose an alternative (Johnson, 2009, p. 15). The President and the staff need to look at what the consequences will be for each scenario. They can make a decision by ana lyzing both situations and determine the probability for each consequence. The President needs to communicate effectively with the staff and this individual needs to be an active listener when deciding how to resolve this problem. The team needs to be able to voice their opinion, and everyone needs to agree with their final decision. If the President needs to provide a news release, He would need to have the ability to communicate effectively.The team needs to do crisis communication planning before the crisis occurs, and be prepared to deal with the world reporting on this crisis (Anonymous, 2010). The decision will be a collectivistic assumption. Since, the decision will be made by a group, and everyone in the staff will have a chance to voice their opinion (Johnson, 2009). The objective is a group consensus, and each person has the ability to communicate and make a difference in the organization.Teams that have more functional interaction, such as problem-solving interaction and action planning, were significantly more satisfied with their meetings (Kauffeld, Lehmann-Willenbrock, 2012). The President is not making the decision alone, and a team that has the ability to problem solve will make better choices. The decision made by the President is based on what the team has expressed, and the resolution would not cause any layoffs. The hospital has a great reputation providing quality care to the patients, and they want to continue providing the same service, and the hospital does not want to lose millions of dollars.The President and the members have decided to continue with the offer by relocating the nurse to a non-patient area. The employee would still have a position in the hospital and receive the same pay and working hours. This is a better decision than terminating the nurse. After reviewing the options, this was the best solution for Community Medical Center in continuing their reputation for the patients and residents in the area. This decision could have a downfall, but I think with that the team made a best decision for this issue.If the members decided to not make any changes with the nurse, the hospital would have lost millions of dollars, many effective employees who made a difference in the community. The President and the members made a decision and not every decision is the most desirable, but a group decision is better than one decision. It takes effective communication, problem solving, and working in a team to come up with the best resolution. This case study showed how to have effective communication within an organization. It takes a team to work together and utilize the decision making models.The staff needs to problem solve effectively, even if there is only a limited amount of time. The President needs to have clear communication, and have the ability in being an active listener. The decisions that are made by team may not always be correct, but there are better resolutions as a group than making decisions just from the President. When a President has a vision and a mission statement, a company has a clear path and the employees will have a better understanding of the direction for the organization. A mission statement is a great way to clarify the intentions of a company.References Johnson, J. (2009). Health organizations: Theories, behavior, and development. Boston: Jones and Bartlett. Kauffeld S, Lehmann-Willenbrock N. Meetings Matter: Effects of Team Meetings on Team and Organizational Success. Small Group Research [serial online]. April 2012;43(2):130-158. Available from: Business Source Elite, Ipswich, MA. Accessed April 2, 2013. What's your advice for communicating in a crisis? (2010). Communication World, 27(4), 13-13. 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