A520.3.1.RB - Decision Making Styles

A520.3.1.RB - Decision Making Styles

In your blog, reflect upon the following questions:

1.    What are a few words that describe your decision-making style?

Cautious

Considerate

Quick

Considered

Well-Thought-Out

Instinctive

2.    What are the opposites of the words you chose?

Cautious - Careless

Considerate - Thoughtless

Quick - Slow

Considered - Hasty

Well-Thought-Out - Apathetic

Instinctive - Speculating

3.    Could you see any benefits to making decision using an approach that is based on either the opposites or somewhere in-between and what outcomes would you expect to see?

I think that making decisions only based on the first set of words or only on the opposites is ridiculous. In life, as in making decisions, there has to be common sense and a middle zone where you do what is right for each individual situation. “Managers often propose a solution before an adequate definition of a problem has been given.” Whetten (2016)  If making a hasty and instinctive decision is the right thing to do, I think that should be what you do. However, if a well-thought-out and slower decision process takes place because that is what the situation calls for, then so be it. However, we have to make sure that the scope of the problem is understood. The problem occurs when a manager makes every decision the same way. If the manager is slow and deliberate when a quick and instinctive choice needs to be made, then lead times could be impacted and the customer could lose faith in the organization. “Most of the time, the problems we face are complicated, multifaceted, and ambiguous.” Whetten (2016) Ultimately, when we problem solve as leaders, we are trying to eliminate negative behaviors and moving forward with growth within our organizations. “Turn nagging issues into positive aspirations. What would you like to do about repeated frustrations? Don’t fix a broken past. Build a positive future.” Rockwell (2016) If we do not solve a problem effectively, we will inevitably have to revisit it and we all know that rework is non-value added.

References:

Rockwell, D. (2016, January 15) Four ways to become a one word organization. https://leadershipfreak.wordpress.com/2016/01/15/four-ways-to-become-a-one-word-organization/

Whetten, D. A., & Cameron, K. S. (2016). Developing management skills (9., global ed. ed.). Boston, Mass. [u.a.]: Pearson.