Barriers and Solutions in Decision Making

One of the most common barriers in decision making does not know how to make a decision in the first place. Persons actually make decisions, in different circumstances without realizing it. The solution, of course, is to take the time to learn a process that works. People defer to experts and make no attempt to consider whether the expert's choice actually applies to them or not. They are determined to do it their own way. Major barriers in decision making nowadays are fear and anxiety at getting it wrong. Barrier in decision making is the desire to avoid negative consequences and unpleasant aspects. This may lead to indecision, or simply the choosing of a safe option to avoid controversy. Some of the available decision making models are themselves decision making barriers. They are faulty models. The predefined frames that people use for their decisions can act as decision making barriers. Time frame, decision in bounded rationality, thinking of them. Having a working model of decision making and an initiative to educate you works as the barrier in decision making. One of the barriers in decision making is to allow someone else to make the decision for you.

Psychological Barriers to Decision Making Having a pre-conceived and inaccurate notion of reality for a particular setting is the barrier in decision making. The tendency to overweight current events at expense of longer term averages. Attaching too much to a known (and comfortable) category or pattern. Psychology for adjusting very little with the decision even after getting information and realization. Psychology of getting the return of ruined cost by the latest decision. Inaccurately estimating probabilities of various events without analyzing the data. Demonstrating risk dislike. When faced with two choices the risk adverse person will elect the choice with the lowest risk. Most people are risk unwilling by nature. Excitement seeking nature. Sometimes we unwisely commit, and our boldness causes great destruction.

"Emotional tagging" in which emotional "baggage" is tagged onto memories, influencing future actions. For example, a very negative historical association with a person or corporate entity may make us reluctant to do business with them in future. A psychology to get caught up in tactical issues at the expense of business. People who feel personally responsible for a previously selected bad decision often tend to commit additional resources to that alternative. Group Decision Making

Group involves taking into account the needs and opinions of every group member, being able to come to an equitable decision as efficiently as possible are important for the functioning of the group. Decision Making Model 1. Identify the decision to be made. Potential questions to ask are: What are the particulars of the assigned task? What are we being asked to do? What conflict is affecting our group effectiveness? What barrier to effective group work are we facing? 2. Analyze the issue under discussion. Ask yourselves: What is causing the problem? For whom is this problem? What is wrong with the current situation? Why do we need to deal with this issue/decision? Where else can we find resources? 3. Establish criteria. Consider these questions: What would make a solution/decision successful? What issues need to be dealt with in the solution? What criteria will help us determine whether everyone is happy with the solution/decision? 4. Brainstorm potential solutions. Some questions to ask include: What are some possible solutions that would meet most of our established criteria? Are there any options that we may have overlooked? What could we do in the absence of constraints? 5. Evaluate options and select the best one. Additional questions to ask when evaluating alternatives are: What are the pros/cons for each option? Which option is the most realistic to accomplish for now? Which option is the most likely to solve the problem for the long-term? 6. Implement the solution. This involves identifying the resources necessary to implement the decision, as well as the potential obstacles, then taking action. Decide: What should be done? How? By whom? By when? In what order? 7. Monitor and evaluate the outcome. Based on the criteria identified in step 3, evaluate if the decision was successful. If not, revisit step 4 to evaluate the other options or generate new ones. Group Decision-Making Methods

There are several possible methods of decision making that a group may use. Decision by Authority The group generates ideas and holds open discussions, but the final decision is made by one person. Advantages Disadvantages Appropriate when there is a Does not maximize the strengths of the individuals clear expert in the topic at in the group hand The group may not be dedicated to implementing Very fast a decision made by one person Decision by majority The group holds a vote on a particular issue following a period of discussion. The majority wins.
Tyranny of the majority often overwhelms Uses democratic minority views, perhaps encouraging participation in the process factionalism Fast Decision by negative minority The group holds a vote for the most unpopular idea and eliminates it. They repeat this process until only one idea is left.

Group members may feel resentful at having their Democratic ideas voted as unpopular Useful when there are many Slow ideas and few voters Decision by ranking Group members individually write down the 5 (or fewer) ideas they like best, and then rank each idea from 1 to 5, with 5 being the best. The votes are recorded on the board and totaled. The idea with the highest total is selected.

Includes a voting procedure Not suitable for issues and, Takes time therefore, gives the The numbers game can result in a decision that no impression that the final one fully supports decision represents each persons opinion. Decision by unanimity All group members must agree that the decision is the best one. Group members know that Unanimous agreement may be impossible to reach they wont have to do anything they dont approve of Decision by consensus Decision is discussed and negotiated until everyone affected by it understands and agrees with what will be done. Consensus in decision making means that all members

genuinely agree that the decision is acceptable. After a group has identified a decision to be made, each member is asked how he/she feels about the proposed decision by selecting one of the following responses: A. I can say an unqualified yes to the decision. B. I find the decision acceptable. C. I can live with the decision, but Im not especially enthusiastic about it. D. I do not fully agree with the decision, but I do not choose to block it. E. I do not agree with the decision, and I feel we should explore other options. If all the responses from the group members are A, B, C, or D, you have a consensus and are ready to move on. All members feel that they May be difficult to reach a consensus have had an equal May be very time consuming opportunity to influence the decision and will continue to support the group The best way to make decisions, if you have the time Combining Ideas Instead of dropping one idea in favor of another, the group searches for possibilities of implementing both or combining them into one solution.

Either/or decisions are avoided

Implementation may take longer since more than one idea is being considered