Nothing is More Important [Two]

In the Professional Decision Thinker (1983), Ben Heirs states:

“The same logic of decision making, I believe, applies to our managers and leaders. We can no longer afford to depend upon their natural thinking talents (gut response) alone.”

Since this is correct, here is a well-researched way that decision makers should proceed on certain aspects of decision making.

Decision makers should understand the “stage principle.”

Centuries ago it was recognized that there were basic mental activity stages to decision making. These stages are subject neutral. They will, of themselves, solve nothing. They are a guide. These stages also have been called steps, phases, processes, elements, ingredients, set of operations, elementary constituents, and others. It is desirable to standardize on one name, such as stages.

The value of the "stage" method

Without a method, we are left with chance and aimless wandering. Because there are basic stages to problem solving and decision making, we should have a method or model to follow. Over the years, thousands of model formulas have been offered for these mental activity stages.

The categories that need application

Critical thinking

This term is constantly used. If you research its real meaning, you find it is actually decision making and problem solving thinking.

Public policy and Government

Every day at all levels of government public policy decisions are being made. Because of inadequate teaching of decision making, there are often wrong decisions made.

Management in all organizations

It is self-evident that better problem solving and decision making by managers can greatly improve an organization’s profits and goals. A number of studies have shown that managers do not achieve much over 50% correct results in their decision making and problem solving. Remember that managers are also managers of the decision making of personnel under their supervision.

In recent years decision making is being pushed further and further down the ranks of employees. So, if our management leaders improve their decision making knowledge and skills, the benefit would be multiplied and widespread.

[To be continued]