The Power of Rational Decision Making Essay

The challenge when working with others to make a decision is that we all have our own methods of coming to a conclusion. The rational decision-making model is comprehensive in the fact that it requires the decision maker to define the problem, identify criteria for making the decision, weight the criteria, develop alternatives, evaluate alternatives and finally select the best alternative (Robbins, S.P., Judge, T.A. 2009). The challenge with utilizing this method is the fact that most of the time in real world situations, facts are either limited or missed, time compression causes an oversight on all potential alternatives and people tend to choose the easier route to make decisions (Robbins, S.P., Judge, T.A., 2009). Intuition is a powerful tool, however it can also lead to quick and potentially bad decisions (Robbins, S.P., Judge, T.A., 2009). I can recall a conversation with a leader about an employee that made an error administering a medication. The manager had not spoken with the employee or

Decision-making in the workforce is a process of responsibilities used by upper management to implement, enforce rules, regulations, and maintain a successful environment. Decision-making implemented more effectively by making a plan, thinking it through, accepting more than one opinion and determining what is best. However, decision-making often utilized more effectively by opening doors of opportunities for a suggestion, question, discussion, and feedback. Although, more involvement helps improve understanding, utilize behavior skills and present opportunities for better communication. Everyday life consists of decision-making, the right decision may not always be applied, but ensure room for improvement and opportunity. Individuals approached decision-making in many different ways. As stated by (Jones, Graham, & Bateman, 2006) decision making is a procedure used to recognize a problem, weigh the alternatives and evaluate a solution in which, certain situations will require different approaches to become effective.

In the problem analysis phase of effective decision making, group members should recognize any obstacle that may arise that needs to be improved or changed and determine the characteristics, magnitude, and possible cause(s) of that obstacle confronting them. This phase lays the groundwork for what the group should be prepared for as they work together (Hirokawa & Salazar, 1999 p. 170).After analyzing the problem, the group should then discuss and establish goals and objectives in order to generate proposed solutions of

The decision-making process occurs at all levels of management. However, the top executive managers, middle level managers, and front line managers are responsible for guiding the decision making process within their healthcare organizations (Liebler & McConnell, 2008,p.148). CEO’s are responsible for guiding the actions and behaviors of their employees to collectively achieve the organization’s goals. The mission and vision statement are the foundation of what direction the healthcare agency is heading. The CEO and top level executives are responsible for developing code of ethics and code of conduct to align with accreditation, licensing, and federal and state laws.

The first step in the process is to identify and define the problem at hand. During this step, all the information is gathered and looked over. This allows for the problem to be clearly identified and hopefully making the whole process easier. Step two of the process is to begin generating possible solutions. In this step, managers can begin formulating one or several potential solutions (Lombardi, Schermerhorn, & Kramer). Before going onto step three, some additional information may be required, because step three is when a plan of action is chosen. In the fourth step, the chosen plan is implemented. It is the responsibility of the manager to make sure this portion goes smoothly. Everyone on the team should know exactly what they should be doing. The final step in the process is to review the results. In reviewing the outcome of the action plan that has been chosen, you may find things that need to be altered and you may find things that are going perfectly. At this point the appropriate changes should be made.

Rational decision is a state of being agreeable to reasons. The correct decision is not just reasoned but it is also optimal for solving a problem. Mr Weekes, the operation manager, employed series of analytical steps to review possible outcomes for problems by discussing it with managers to come up withdevise particular courses of action.

Problem-solving involves decision-making is important in Management and leadership.my job at Merseyside police on the CSI team involves a lot of problem-solving and decision-making. Well me are called out to investigate a crime scene taking samples such as DNA and other types of forensic evidence we have to decide if the evidence is relevant to hopefully catch the perpetrators and get a successful conviction. Making a good decision requires a combination of skills, clarity of judgement which is important in my job role. We recently had a meeting regarding problem solving and we identified seven steps to solve problems effectively.

Rational choice theory, also known simply as choice theory, is the assessment of a potential offender to commit a crime. Choice theory is the belief that committing a crime is a rational decision, based on cost benefit analysis. The would-be offender will weigh the costs of committing a particular crime: fines, jail time, and imprisonment versus the benefits: money, status, heightened adrenaline. Depending on which factors out-weigh the other, a criminal will decide to commit or forgo committing a crime. This decision making process makes committing a crime a rational choice. This theory can be used to explain why an offender will decide to commit burglary, robbery, aggravated assault, or murder.

Decisions are shared between all employees utilizing the rational decision-making model. Greenleaf, R. K. (1998) noted, servant-leadership advocates a group-oriented approach to analysis and decision making as a means of strengthening institutions and of improving society” (p. 9). As noted by Hellriegel, Jackson and Slocum (2008) “The rational model consists of seven steps, defining and diagnosing the problem, setting goals, searching for alternative solutions, comparing and evaluating alternative solutions, choosing among alternatives, implementing the solution and follow up. The model prescribes a set of phases that individuals or teams should follow to increase the likelihood that their decisions will be logical and optimal” (p. 266). The management team takes the responsibility for defining the problem. The management team and employees participate in setting goals, searching for solutions, comparing alternatives, and choosing alternative solutions. The makeup of the implementation team depends on the tasks and expertise required to successfully implement the solution.

Problem solving is a universal process that allows us to make decisions on everything from what to eat and what to wear. These steps contain the necessary knowledge that has been constructed through previous life experiences. Without sufficient experience the supports designed to strengthen our choices are weakened ending in the ultimate failure of the problem.

Organizational behavior helps managers to improve the organization in a good way. Decision making process is the one of the behavior in human organizational behavior. According to McShane and Von Glinow (2000), “decision making a conscious process of making choices among one or more alternatives with the intention of moving toward some desired state of affairs”. Decision making is a linear process and it includes six steps such as identifying the problems, gather and evaluate data, list and evaluate alternatives, select best action, implement the decision and getter feedback (refer to Figure 1 in Appendix 1).

Decision making can be described as a process of making a decision or decisions, based on choices made amongst two or more competing course of actions. The ‘Decision making’ also requires making a define choice between two or more alternatives course of actions that are available.

We have to think about the qualitative factors that are involved in our decision making too. In the decision making process, as we saw in a case called The Nancy M. Hohman, we saw that many times the numbers will not speak louder than our personal preferences. The Nancy M. Hohman was a less than one year old ship, worthy US$ 40 million, carrying 200,000 tons of crude oil and 28 crew members and had an engine malfunction 9 miles way off the coast of South Africa. However, Port Elizabeth (the nearest one) was too small for the ship and the next close one was 380 miles away.

The focus of my term paper is the decision making process used by today's top-level managers. Top-level managers, such as Chief Executive Officers (CEOs), Chief Operations Officers (COOs), and Chief Financial Officers (CFOs), must make critical decisions on a daily basis. Their choices and the resulting outcomes affect the company, the employees, and the stakeholders. Due to the high importance of their decisions, the process they use to reach them merits a close examination.

This report will discuss about the approach to rational decision making process. It discusses how an everyday problem faced by management can be tackled by using