Guided Learning: Decision making
Content & How to use
Making decisions with a team can be difficult and so we tend to delay making these decision, but obviously that does not solve the problem. To make a decision properly, it is useful to understand the necessity of decision making. The first website of this topic guide explains what decision making exactly is and what it is that prevents teams from making decisions. In the page that follows, the process of decision making and different decision-making methods are explained.
1. Decision making
Some people put off decision making by endlessly searching for more information, other find a solution in taking a vote or tossing a coin. This can been done more effectively. Check these summarized tips or take a look at the full article.
What Prevents Effective Decision-Making?
Not enough information
This might feel like making a decision without a basis. Always prepare for moments when you know you have to make a decision and indentify which information in most important to you.
Too much information
This is the opposite and can be even counterproductive. Having too much information can be called analysis paralysis and is often used to delay decision-making. Decide what is important and set a clear timescale for decision making.
Interested in the decision making process? Read more here.
2. Group decision making
Making a decision with a group of people can be even more difficult than making a decision on your own. However, when you are working with a team, decisions have to be run by the whole group. If you notice that you and your team are having difficulties making decisions, or that you can't agree, you can read the article below.
Identify the decision to be made
Clarify what you are trying to decide with your team, so you have a goal on which to focus. Questions which help you answering this are; What are we being asked to do? What barrier to effective group work are we facing?
Analyze the issue under discussion
With the clear goal in your head, examine data and resources and determine which additional information is needed.
Establish criteria
How do you determine whether a chosen solution is successful? Rank the criteria in order of importance and score the alternatives.
Brainstorm potential solutions
Current solutions may be sub-optimal. Collect all the ideas and elaborate further upon them. Maybe there are options you have overlooked.
Next to these tips, there are also several decision-making methods. Underneath you can find the benefits of each of them. This article outlines how each method works exactly.