Six step decision making process

Six Steps In Decision Making

Situation and Desired Outcome

Research and Identify Options

Compare and Contrast Alternatives and Consequences

Choose an Alternative

Design and Implement Action Plan

Evaluate Results

The six step decision making process is designed to provide a standardized means for evaluating and measuring potential alternatives. This begins with understanding the situation and the desired outcomes of the situation. Once the situation is understood options to address the situation will be developed and then these alternatives will be compared and contrasted to determine what alternative would best meet the desired outcomes (Kartha, 2012). Once this analysis is conducted an alternative is selected and employed though the action plan. Once the alternative is implemented the alternative will be evaluated for its success or failures. Using a step by step process will ensure the right alternative is selected and a determination is made on whether or not the alternative met the desired outcome.

2

Define Situation and Desired Outcome

Identify the Problem

Understand Importance of Decision

Determine Ultimate Goal of Decision Making Process

When a situation arises that requires a solution it is important to first understand the situation and the desired outcomes of the alternative that will be selected. This requires identifying the problem and determining what is required to fix the problem (Mele, 2009). For example if the problem is a large number of customer complaints then it is important to recognize there is a problem and determine what type of approach is needed to fix the problem.

3

Research and Identify Options

Seek Information about Problem

Identify Potential Alternatives

Brainstorm

In order to understand the situation that needs to be addressed research is needed. This requires delving into the situation and learning everything there is to know for example if the situation is a high number of customer complaints then the research would focus on what is causing the complaints and to identify any common threads in the complaints. When researching similar situations and how these situations are handled alternative to address the situation can develop. These different alternatives will be researched and the best alternatives to address the situation would be selected. The manager involved in the decision making process will brainstorm ideas with the team in order to identify potential alternatives. One alternative are identified they need to be researched for their effectiveness in a similar situation.

4

Compare and Contrast Alternatives and Consequences

Clarify Options

Determine Benefits of Each Alternative

Identify Potential Weaknesses or Negative Consequences

Once alternative are identified it is important to determine which of these alternatives would be the best fit for the situation. This begins with clarifying the options that have been selected. This include narrowing a large number of alternatives to just a few. Next the selected alternatives will be compared and contrasted to determine what benefits each alternative can provide as well as to identify an potential weaknesses or negative consequences for implementing the alternative. Some alternative will provide far more benefits than others but if the weaknesses outweigh the benefits this alternative could be dismissed.

5

Choose an Alternative

Weigh Benefits and Consequences of Each Alternative

Seek Additional information

Select Best Alternative

Once all of the alternative have been thoroughly analyzed and the benefits and consequences of each has been considered more information should be sought on the alternatives that have been selected as having the most benefit. If there are two alternatives that could be beneficial developing more information will assist in making an informed decision. This could include seeking outside help on determining what alternatives have been most effective in the past. Once all the data is gathered the best alternative will be selected.

6

Design and Implement Action Plan

Assess Selected Alternative

Create Action Plan

Establish Specific Solutions

Implement Action Plan

Once the alternative has been selected the next step is to assess the selected alternative in order to create an action plan. In order to implement any alternative information on the alternative must be assessed to create steps to implement the action plan. This involves creating specific solutions and then implementing the action plan (Mele, 2009). For example if the alternative selected is to implement a new high quality customer service plan solutions would include training employees and printing training materials.

7

Evaluate Results

Assess Effectiveness of Alternative

Determine if Any Challenges

Learn from Mistakes

Make Adjustments to Action Plan

Once the alternative has been implemented it will need to be evaluated for its success. If the number of customer complaints is going down then the alternative is successful but if this number is smaller than excepted the challenges causing it to be slower than expected would need to be identified. Once any challenges are identified the manager can learn from the mistakes that were made with prior customer service approaches or identify the mistakes made with the current alternative. Once any mistakes or weaknesses are identified any adjustments needs to be made to the action plan. This adjustment will require the six steps of decision making.

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References

Kartha, D. (2012). 6 Steps to Decision-making Process. Retrieved September 23, 2014 from http:// www.buzzle.com/articles/6-steps-to-decision-making-process.html

Mele D. (2009). Practical Wisdom in the Managerial Decision Making Process. Retrieved September 23, 2014 from http://www.stthomas.edu/cathstudies/CST/conferences/PracticalWisdom/PracticalWisdom/Melep