An Organized Approach to Making Decisions

3rd Session Thinking Activity (a) Methods of Making Decisions Thinking Activity (b)

Course Facilitator: Ms. Qazi Safia Hussain

Thinking Activity (a)Analyzing a previous decision1. Think back on an important decision that you made that

turned out well, and describe the experience as specifically as possible.

2. Reconstruct the reasoning process that you used to make your decision. Did you: Clearly define the decision to be made and the related issues? Consider various choices and anticipate the consequences of

these various choices? Evaluate the various pros and cons of different courses of

action? Create a specific plan of action to implement your ideas?

Methods of Making Decisions

Step1: Define the decision clearly You must be clear of the decision you are

taking. You needs to be more specific and clear. Do not ignore the un-obvious points

before defining your decision.

Methods of Making Decisions

Step2: Consider All the Possible Choices

Successful decision makers explore all of the possible choices in their situation.

For example, a student in a recent class of mine couldn’t decide whether he should major in accounting or business management. In discussing his situation with other members of the class, he revealed that his real interest was in the area of graphic design and illustration.

Methods of Making Decisions

Step3: Gather all the relevant information and Evaluate the pros

and cons. In addition to locating all relevant information, each of the

possible choices you identified has certain advantages and disadvantages, and it is essential that you analyze these pros and cons in an organized fashion.

For example: For example, in the case of the student described earlier, the choice of pursuing a career in accounting may have advantages and disadvantages.

Methods of Making Decisions

Step4: Select the best choice (that will meet your needs)

The first three steps of this approach are designed to help you analyze your decision situation.

In this step, you need to conclude which choice is the best and meets your requirement.

Once identified, the goals can be ranked in order of their priority, which will then suggest what the “best” choice will be.

Methods of Making Decisions

Step 5: Implement a Plan of Action Once you have selected what you consider your

best choice, you need to develop and implement a specific, concrete plan of action.

The more specific and concrete your plan of action, the greater the likelihood of success

Thinking Activity (b)ANALYZING A FUTURE DECISION Describe an important decision in your academic or

personal life that you will have to make in the near future.

Using the five-step decision-making approach we just described, analyze your decision and conclude with your “best” choice.