Decision Making

Question 1

What are the steps in the rational decision making model

Answer 1

Define the probelm
Identify the criteria
Allocate weights to the criteria
Evaluate the alternatives
Select the best alternative

Question 2

Explain step 1

Answer 2

discrepancy is the difference between current state and the desired state, the discrepancy is the problem

Question 3

Explain step 2

Answer 3

Criteria: attributes of the job that are important to you
EG) compensation
meaningfulness
schedule
location

Question 4

Explain step 3

Answer 4

take criteria and decide how important they are

Question 5

Explain step 4

Answer 5

develop choices, what are the other options, how mnay choices will you consider

Question 6

Explain step 5

Answer 6

evaluate all of the choices based on each criteria

(rated weight value) = rating x weight

Question 7

Explain step 6

Answer 7

Identify the best choice - the one what has the highest value

Question 8

What are the biases in decision making

Answer 8

framing, escalation of committment, statistical

Question 9

explain the framing bias

Answer 9

decision makers are swayed by how information is framed/presented - usually in terms of gains or losses (positives/negatives)

Question 10

explain the escalation of committment bias

Answer 10

individuals or groups persist with a failing course of action, pouring more resources into it despite negative outcomes

Question 11

explain statistical bias

Answer 11

systematic errors in judgement that effect decision making

Question 12

what are the strengths of group decision making

Answer 12

-generates more complete information and knowledge
-offers increases diversity of views
-generates higher quality decisions
-leads to increases acceptance of a solution

Question 13

what are the weaknesses of group decision making

Answer 13

-more time consuming
-conformity pressures in groups
-discussion can be dominated by one or a few members
-decisions suffer from ambiguous responsibility

Question 14

What are the symptoms of groupthink

Answer 14

Illusion of invulnerablitly
Assumption of mortality
Rationalized resistance
Peer Pressure
Minimized doubts
Illusion of unanimity

Question 15

Describe illusion of invulnerability

Answer 15

group members become overconfident among themselves, allowing them to take extraordinary risks

Question 16

Describe assumption of mortality

Answer 16

group members believe highly in the moral rightness of the groups objectives and do not feel the need to debate the ethics of their actions

Question 17

Describe rationalized restistance

Answer 17

group members rationalize any resistance to the assumptions they have made. No matter how strongly evidence may contradict their basic assumptions, members behave so as to reinforce those assumptions continually

Question 18

Describe peer pressure

Answer 18

group members apply direct pressure on those who momentarily express doubts about any of the groups shared views or who question the validity of arguements supporting the alternative favoured by the majority

Question 19

Describe minimized doubts

Answer 19

those group members who have doubts or hold differing points of view seek to avoid deviating from what appears to be a group consensus by keeping silent about misgivings and even minimizing the importance of their doubts

Question 20

Descibe illusion of unanimity

Answer 20

if someone doesnt speak, it’s assumed that they are in full agreement. In other words, abstention becomes viewed as a yes vote

Question 21

What are the improved decison making process

Answer 21

brainstorming
nominal group technique
delphi method

Question 22

describe brainstorming

Answer 22

lots of encouragment for participation, no critics. Just put ideas on the table

Question 23

describe nominal group technique

Answer 23

step 1- present group with problem/question
step 2- individually write what they think
step 3- each member presents idea infront of other members
step 4– members discuss/debate
++People will play devils advocate
Step 5- go separately and provide another answer
This is will repeat and continue until group is ready to vote

Called nominal because it onvolves not jst group work but individual work as well

Question 24

describe delphi method

Answer 24

named after the oracle of delphi
-ask group members a specific question, theyll predict whats gonna happen
(theyre the wisdom/theyre the oracle)
-Visit the oracle and ask what they think, theyll provide insight
-Ask first question, they answer, ask another question.
By the end each member in the group knows what everyone is thinking