Decision Making Analysis and Implementation Plan
Introduction
Decision making is a crucial process that is required in running organizations for better results. Poor decision making can be very detrimental in running any organization. Decisions made affect the operations of a team and depict the competencies of a team leader or a manager. Decision making can be done for various reasons, such as solving a dilemma in a company. Organizations are never perfect; therefore, some issues require sound decisions for the growth and development of a company or a firm. For instance, poor communication and feedback is a problem that has affected the performance of numerous organizations. I know a company that has been struggling with this problem over time, which adversely affected its outcomes.
In most cases, workers have been unable to open up and air their views and show their skills in fear of how they might be perceived or brought down. Poor communication and feedback, if not solved, can be very detrimental as most potential opportunities and skills will never be expressed for the company to grow. Free communication and feedback can soar a company very high in terms of competitiveness or even quality and favorable production. Decision making is very crucial in solving a problem like this.
- Decision Making Analysis
Decision-Making Models
Several decision-making models can be applied in solving various dilemmas in an organization. Not all problems can be solved through the application of any model. Specific models are suitable for solving a particular problem. For instance, to solve the problem of poor communication and feed, I would recommend the use of the rational model in deciding to solve the problem (Bazerman, 2013). This approach is the best since it is a step by step model that ensures the appropriate solution is achieved. When the rational model is used in decision making, most people apply a logical and comprehensive approach. This model is the best because it defines the problem and the possible causes of the issue. The model further seeks to identify a possible solution to the problem. This makes it easy for decision-makers to choose the appropriate alternative and implementation plan to ensure that the process is undertaken as expected. The rational approach can follow up to determine whether the alternative undertaken was successful or not. The approach is the most suitable as it ensures that stability is realized if the situations turn chaotic. Further, it offers a platform whereby every person can participate. However, the approach takes a long period to achieve the results.
Plan for Mitigating the Impact of Biases on Objective Decision-Making
An alternative to the rational approach is the organic approach. The rational approach is better than the organic approach because the organic model has no definite frame of reference for people to communicate and express themselves freely. Additionally, progress concerning problem-solving cannot be measure. This adds more problems to the dilemma at hand.
Biasness has been a critical problem in objective decision making. There is a need to eliminate this biasness to achieve a set objective. Several bias-based barriers interfere with objective decision making. For instance, anchoring is a bias based restriction whereby decision-makers are influenced by numbers, even the invalid ones, which makes people unable to have their stand (HBR, 2013). Framing is another barrier whereby decisions are influenced by the situation presented. Another obstacle is the availability of heuristic. This is whereby recent or approaching events are measured in higher levels compared to the past. Confirmation bias is a barrier whereby decisions made the initial play as self-fulfilling prophecies. Hindsight bias is a barrier where decision-makers cannot fathom the period in which they did not know something they currently know. I would ensure that these barriers are mitigated in several ways. For instance, I would ensure that numbers do not influence that kind of decision to be made but rather be guided by the facts. The present situation should never interfere with the decisions to be made. Assumptions must always be eliminated since past situations can never determine what the future holds. I would never use initial decisions as a self-fulfilling prophecy but rather to improve and aim for more favorable results. For problems to be fully solved, decision-makers should always remember what they previously knew before they got a new idea because it may be helpful another day.
Plan for Promoting Motivation and Commitment
Personal framing and preference reversals have some tendencies that can interfere with practical problem-solving. For instance, one of the personal framing tendencies includes several framing that a single problem can undertake. The availability of different framing can significantly interfere with how the solution to that problem should be obtained. Additionally, personal framing lead to perceptions that are not perfect. One tendency associated with preference reversals is the emotions presented during decision making. The number of emotions highly determines how the decisions will be made. In most cases, people make a preference reversal depending on the feeling they have at the moment. This situation interferes with the process of thinking, which, in turn, translates to improper decision making (Bazerman, 2013).
A leader should understand how they feel and emotions of people surrounding them (HBR, 2013). I would always work towards guarding my feelings so that they may never affect the decisions I make. I can utilize several strategies for self-managing motivation and emotion in decision-making. For instance, I would make proper use of self-awareness in my operations. Being self-aware is crucial as I would always understand my current feelings and the impacts they may have on people I work with, thus enabling me to control and regulate them.
Further, as a leader, I can make use of self-regulation. Self-regulation would enable me to weigh on what I verbally say to others and avoid rushed or uninformed decisions. Self-motivation is an excellent strategy as it would help me strive towards attaining my set goals and objectives. Escalation of commitment is a situation whereby people stand by their previously made decisions or ideas even though they were irrational. Leaders tend to make their past ideas seem better than they indeed are. One of the strategies for escalating commitment is seeking the most favorable shreds of evidence to maintain a positive self-image. Another approach is coming up with promises that can be achieved. These promises help keep people close. People should listen to their feelings before that make any decisions on escalating commitment. It is significant to invoke previous choices and see if given another chance, the same decision would be made.
- Decision Implementation Plan
For an implementation plan to be termed successful, an affirmative action necessary for meeting promises standards and creating the credibility required for coming up with other business plans with success should be created. If a decision is not properly worked on, it may be challenging to attain any plans. The decision implementation plan comprises of several steps.
Action Step Identification
Activities involved in the implementation of decisions are classified depending on their physical or administrative appearance. During this step, the determination of what will happen, the time required, and the place of occurrence are done. Moreover, the level strives to identify primary and minority restrictions. These constraints may include time, availability of the resources as well as the attitudes of the workforce. In this step, I would ensure that there are no restrictions or hindrances to making the necessary decisions.
Communication Strategy
In most cases, small businesses tend to have team decision making, especially if they run under an informal organizational structure. Employees in these situations are mandated to make decisions. However, arriving at a concrete conclusion can be tough, although the support is immense. Communication strategy in decision making must persuade and inform. As a leader, I would use this step to bring everybody on board to avoid future problems.
Full versus Phased Decision Implementation
Having various phases of implementation plan depending on related tasks can be very reasonable. This is significant as some steps may require training. This phase is vital as it allows for further training and verification of decisions made before they are fully implemented. As a leader, I would use this phrase to ensure that no mistake is built on the decision made and that everything is the best for the company. In addition, I would provide that the necessary team ascertains the decisions either manually or electronically before implementation.
- Decision Evaluation
Evaluation is the last phase of informal decision making. The evaluation step is crucial for any decision-maker as it aids in getting lessons that can be significant in improving the decision-making ability. Further, this step evaluates the value of the process of decision making to make decisions more effective in the future. The decision made is in alignment with the vision, mission, and goals of the organization. Every organization strives to ensure that maximization is achieved in terms of production. Proper communication and feedback would imply that the company performs betters; there is free sharing of thoughts and skills. In addition, the company’s reputation would be enhanced as employees are the primary ambassadors of any organization. There are several repercussions if organizations do not make necessary decisions, such as tainting its name and decreased market value.
- Ethical and Spiritual Analysis
Ethical Considerations
Ethical considerations cause dilemmas in decision making, and thus their considerations are very crucial. The ethical considerations, in most cases, favor a particular position of the decision. These considerations conflict in many cases, and thus most people prefer economic factors. Ethics in decision-making are outlined as what is right or wrong, fair or unfair concerning effects on people. The believes that the company hold defines what is ethical to them. Therefore, the decisions made here are ethical since they follow the ethical expectations of the company. Unethical choices would be very detrimental to the company, individuals involved, and general society.
Faith Integration
Every person has his or her faith in which they abide on. I have my faith. My faith always guided my paths and the decisions I make. My choices would always be aligned with my faith and what I believe. I believe in a supernatural power that would guide me in making proper, ethical, and informed decisions. My faith, values, and personal code of ethics informed my decision-making process because that guides me. My faith teaches me to handle every person ethically, and thus, my decisions would always be ethical.
In conclusion, decision making is very crucial in running any organization. Poor decisions can be very detrimental in the operation of a company. Decision making is very that requires implementation as well as evaluation to ascertain its effectiveness. Ethical consideration and faith are essential in making proper and sound decisions.
References
Bazerman, M. H. (2013). Judgment in Managerial Decision Making (8th ed.). Hoboken: Wiley. ISBN: 978-1-118-06570-9
HBR’s 10 Must-Read on Making Smart Decisions. (2013). Boston, MA: Harvard Business School Publishing Corporation ISBN: 978-1-63369-458-3