1. Decision Making
What?
Art of choosing between two or more courses of action.
Always there cannot be a correct decision but … better decision.

2. Effective Decision Making
Although decisions can be made using either intuition or reasoning, a combination of both approaches is often used. 
Whatever approach is used, it is usually helpful to structure decision making in order to:
Reduce more complicated decisions down to simpler steps.
See how any decisions are arrived at.
Plan decision making to meet deadlines.

3. Decision Making – stages
Listing all possible solutions/options.
Setting a time scale and deciding who is responsible for the decision.
Information gathering.
Weighing up the risks/ responsibility involved.
Deciding on values, or in other words what is important.
Weighing up the pros and cons of each course of action.
Making the decision.

4. Decision Making 1. Listing Possible Solutions/Options
Come up with a list of all the possible solutions and/or options available
Appropriate to work on a group problem-solving process.
Include brainstorming or some other 'idea generating' process
This stage is important to the overall decision making processes as a decision will be made from a selection of fixed choices. 
Always remember to consider the possibility of not making a decision or doing nothing and be aware that both options are actually potential solutions in themselves.

5. Decision making
2. Setting a Time Scale and Deciding Who is Responsible for the Decision
How much time is available to spend on this decision?
Is there a deadline for making a decision and what are the consequences of missing this deadline?
Is there an advantage in making a quick decision?
How important is it to make a decision? 
How important is it that the decision is right?
Will spending more time improve the quality of the decision?

6. 3. Information Gathering
If there is inadequate or out-dated information then it is more likely that a wrong decision might be made.
 If there is a lot of irrelevant information then the decision will be difficult to make, it will be easier to become distracted by unnecessary factors. 
There is a need for up-to-date, accurate information on which to make decisions. 
  The amount of time spent on information gathering has to be weighed against how much you are willing to risk making the wrong decision. 
In a group situation, such as at work, it may be appropriate for different people to research different aspects of the information required.

7. 4. Weighing up the Risks Involved
How much risk should be taken in making the decision?
Generally, the amount of risk an individual is willing to take depends on:
The seriousness of the consequences of taking the wrong decision.
The benefits of making the right decision.
Not only how bad the worst outcome might be, but also how likely that outcome is to happen.
It is also useful to consider what the risk of the worst possible outcome occurring might be, and to decide if the risk is acceptable. 
The choice can be between going 'all out for success' or taking a safe decision.

8. 5. Deciding on Values
Everybody has their own unique set of values - what they believe to be important.
Eg: Purchase of a car
Depending on which values are considered important, different opinions may seem more or less attractive. 
If the responsibility for a decision is shared it is possible that one person might not have the same values as the others.
In such cases, it is important to obtain a consensus as to which values are to be given the most weight. 
It is important that the values on which a decision is made are understood because they will have a strong influence on the final choice.

9. 6. Weighing up the Pros and Cons
Evaluate the pros and cons of each possible solution/option by considering the possible advantages and disadvantages. 
One aid to evaluating any solution/option is to use a 'balance sheet', weighing up the pros and cons (benefits and costs) associated with that solution.
Eg: Buying Truck for Logistics

10. 7. Making the Decision
The pros and cons method (as above) is just one way of evaluating each of the possible solutions/options available.
Intuitive Judgements: In many cases people use an intuitive approach to decision making. 
When making a decision many influences, which have not been considered, may play a part.  For example, prejudice or wishful thinking might affect judgement. 

11. 7. Making the Decision
Reliance is often placed on past experience without consideration of past mistakes. 
If possible, it is best to allow time to reflect on a decision once it has been reached. 
It is preferable to sleep on it before announcing it to others. 
Once a decision is made public, it is very difficult to change

12. Case study
Role play
Game