Decision-Making: Process and Tools
“Step Two - Follow a Basic Decision Process”
(SL#37)
by Wm. M. Pinson, Jr., Th.D. with Lloyd Elder, Th.D.
adapted from SkillTrack® Vol. 10 - Decision-Making
1. Benefits of a Basic Process for Making
Decisions--A process for making decisions is better than a
haphazard, hit-and-miss approach. Because most persons have not had the benefit
of a careful study of decision-making, many lack such a process. Hopefully,
out of this study you will develop your own systematic process. Experts
in decision-making point out that a systematic approach helps you to:
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Address the right decision problem
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Clarify your real objectives
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Develop a range of creative alternatives
- Understand the consequences of your decision
- Make appropriate tradeoffs among conflicting objectives
- Deal sensibly with uncertainties
- Take account of your risk-taking attitude
- Plan ahead for decisions linked over time
[Hammond, p. 217]
2. Criteria for the Basic Process--Regardless
of the kind of decision to be made, certain steps are deemed important to
arrive at a good decision. These steps may be taken subconsciously or very
deliberately, informally or formally, but in any case each is important. The
amount of time, thought, and energy given to a decision will vary; the basic
steps should not.
And what are these steps? Authorities in decision-making differ
as to which ones are absolutely essential and how to name or describe each
step. Whatever process or steps a person may follow, an effective decision-making
process will fulfill these six criteria:
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It focuses on what is important.
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It is logical and consistent.
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It acknowledges both subjective and objective factors
and blends analytical with intuitive thinking.
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It requires only as much information and analysis as
is necessary to resolve a particular dilemma.
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It encourages and guides the gathering of relevant
information and informed opinion.
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It is straightforward, reliable, easy to use, and flexible.
[Hammond, p. 4]
3. To these the Christian servant leader will add:
(see also SL#36)
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It begins with a faith commitment in God.
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It utilizes the resources available to the follower
of Jesus Christ.
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It is consistent with the life and teaching of Jesus
Christ.
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It seeks to advance the purposes of the kingdom of God.
Some authorities on decision-making endeavor to reduce the
process to a formula or easily memorized summary. This approach is represented
by the following, labeled the PROACT approach:
PRoblem
Objectives
Alternatives
Consequences
Tradeoffs
Uncertainty
Risk Tolerance
Linked Decisions [Hammond, p. 5]
4. Most agree that the following are important to
the decision-making process, each of which is included in
the above “formula”:
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Recognize the need for a decision.
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Determine if this decision really needs to be made.
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Identify the persons who should make the decision--individual,
if so, whom; group, if so, which--and the person or group to assign the
decision-making responsibility.
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Understand the nature of the decision and/or problem.
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State the objectives or priorities involved in the decision.
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Gain opinions about the options or alternatives.
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Obtain facts and information related to the decision.
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Identify the boundary conditions related to the decision.
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State clearly the options or alternatives.
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Evaluate the options or alternatives.
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Make a tentative decision and assess it.
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Make the final decision and announce or publicize it.
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Implement the decision.
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Assess the impact of the decision and monitor the results.
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Analyze the process used in making the decision and see
what can be learned in order to improve the decision-making process.
Certainly, this is an idealized/complex process. Not all, perhaps only a
few, will follow it in detail. Some will leap past certain steps. Yet it does
set forth important ingredients to any decision-making process. So, let’s
combine and examine these briefly in the next eight steps as Steps 3 through
10 (SL#38, #39, #40, #41).
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© 2006 servantleaderstoday.com; hosted and
copyrighted by Lloyd Elder & Associates, Inc.
For full citation of referenced works, see Bibliography/Links at www.servantleaderstoday.com
Adapted by Lloyd Elder, Th.D., Founding Director, Moench Center for Church Leadership