Decisions are difficult to make at times. Particularly when all of the factors which impinge on the subject are unclear or are not readily accessible.
The listing below may be of help in that process. However, it cannot provide the definitive yes or no to any problem or decision making process. Principally due to the fact that there are always other factors which are involved which can not be fully covered in a single listing.
That said, there is some value in evaluating several aspects of any process which might not come readily to mind.
Questions you should ask yourself in the decision making process
Will the decision limit the way in which you or others will proceed in the future?
What are the consequences of letting the decision ride for a while until there is greater clarity?
Are there other things which could be done to change or delay the decision making process for right now?
What is the process that you have to go through to let things go on the way they are.
Have all of the relevant aspects of the decision making process been fully assessed?
Is a modified yes or no answer available which would not be so drastic
How many individuals will this decision effect?
What are the opinions of others who are involved
What are the opinions of others who are not involved but have some familiarity with the problem?
Who else have you asked for advice and input?
You may take no ones advice in the end but at least get their input. A new angle on the problem may be surprisingly helpful in solidifying the decision or at least the way to go about making the decision work for you.
What is the possibility that you will change your mind in the future?
What do you really want to do?
How sure are you that you want to do it?
What are the positive consequences of a yes answer?
What are the negative consequences of a yes answer?
What are the positive consequences of a no answer?
What are the negative consequences of a no answer?
Or put another way, what will be the good that comes out of making a yes decision?
What will be the negatives that come out of making a yes decision?
If you make no decision, what will be the consequences?
What is the right thing to do?
what is the legal thing to do?
What is the correct thing to do?
If things were different regarding the situation, what decision would you make - or would there even be a question of making a decision?
What would have to be different for that to happen?
What could you do to change the conditions right now?
What could be done in general to change the conditions?
Does this reason justify the making of a crucial decision?
Is there another way of handling the problem that has not been tried?
Why are you making a decision? List all of the reasons.
Why are you making a decision right now?
What are you trying to show or prove by making the decision?
How much time do you have to make the decision? Have you gathered all of the necessary information to making an informed decision?
What information are you lacking to enable a free and well informed choice?
What could you do which would have significant bearing on the choice made?
By the way - what is your goal? Is it realistic? Is it right for you? Will it enhance you and others involved?
What are the steps to take to make it a reality?
Is there one or two things which are holding up the process?
Are there one or two things which make it difficult to make the best decision?
Are there other ways to fulfill your goal(s)? Are they more relevant, more possible than the path you have chosen or will chose? Is the decision tied to one of these paths?
What are all of the different ways in which the means for fulfilling the demands which are causing the problem, be accomplished? Have you tried any one of them?
Deciding questions:
Given all of the above, should you change what is at the present time?
yes maybe yes maybe no no
If you said anything but yes, don't do it. Or, as my grandmother used to say, "If in doubt, don't".
And then of course there is the old standby: What would your mother, father, uncle, aunt, mentor, anybody, etc. have you do (unless of course they were always wrong)?
Enough beating around the bush. You know by now what you have to do. So do it.
Sometimes, the problems leading to the current decision are no longer problems once the goals, demands, alternatives open are clarified.
Decision Between Alternatives return to index
Many of the tools developed as guides to the decision making process are tools for deciding between alternative options. A yes or no answer often does not fit the needs of the situation.
Further, case studies are often used to illustrate the successes and failures of specific problems. However, case studies are valuable as examples of possible alternatives but can not answer the needs and particular situation and variables effecting any other group or problem encountered.
Aside from many of the questions above in the yes no paradigm, the following questions relate specifically to multi-option situations.
Some of the questions to ask in evaluating different options:
Which option gives the closest approximation to the professed and operational goals of the group.
Which will cause the least amount of restructuring.
Which will create the greatest return on the effort or resources to be expended
Which will make the fullest use of the talents and abilities of the permanent members of the group
Which has the highest probability of creating the desired effect?
Which will cause more problems in the end, or will mean extra unnecessary effort to finally attain your goal?
What are the steps to completing each of the possible decisions?
What are the pluses and minuses of each possibility?
Which one best fulfills the purpose you hope to attain in the end?
What are all of the problems faced and how does each of the alternatives deal with these problems
Build different scenarios for each of the options or possible decisions and answer the yes/no questions regarding each.
Realistic Assessment Method - What forces are really operating return to index
Many of the methods used to determine decision points and to assess the best way to proceed (see sources below) are generally cognizant of the economic aspects, utility, speed, efficiency and efficacy of a process. What is often overlooked are the factors which in the end cause changes in directions in small ways, adjustments, the addition of resources, funding, etc. and finally, in many cases, totally change the way in which any decision is implemented and in some cases the decision itself. These are the forces of individual predilection, juxtaposition of competing allegiances, habitual actions, belief structures, line of least resistance, entrenched positions, power alignments, individual and group biases, informal group dynamics, the good for particular individuals, and in the best circumstances: justice, balance, fairness, sense of duty, equality, and the good for the greatest number.
In order to make any decision which has any hope of being realized, these factors must be taken into consideration, or rather, will be taken into consideration and will dominate any changes on the ground.
To the degree to which these are identified and added to the mix, the more successful the realization of the larger goals of the individual or group.
The following parameters or listings usually involve an intimate knowledge of the group or the individuals involved although an approximation may be achieved from an overall assessment of the interaction of a group and some knowledge of its history. Other tools which can be helpful are smart questionnaires, astute observation of the group in action, interaction self analysis by individuals at different levels of an organization, and outside assessments by knowledgeable observers.
Parameters or Listings:
Negative Thinking return index
The old adage to "think positively" is a standard regardless of the situation and particularly when things are not going so well. Thinking negatively is what often got us into the problem in the first place. But solving a problem by 1) backtracking, or by 2) error and mistake assessment, or 3) assessing possible negative consequences gives new perspectives on what in fact should be done to solve a problem, and is sometimes the most positive way forward.
Selected Web Sources for Decision Making, Help & Clarification return index
Selected sites giving methods and help in the decision making process. Some commercial sites are listed when they provide thought provoking material or actual methods for problem solving online as part of their presentation.
* Lesson 1: Problem Identification
* Lesson 2: Reflective Problem-Solving
* Lesson 3: Conflict-Based Problem-Solving
* Lesson 4: Creative Problem-Solving
Includes a Problem Solving WWWebliography
Inquiry and problem solving are central to standards-based teaching of mathematics and science. Articles on this theme show how classroom teachers encourage their students to become inquirers and problem solvers. Related materials from the ENC collection have been selected to help teachers do this important work.
This section provides information on how this topic relates to the concerns of educators.
Read about these inquiry and problem solving activities that take place outside the classroom in the field.
Read about activities that teachers have implemented in their classrooms to promote inquiry and problem solving.
Advice for teachers on how to implement inquiry and problem solving activities with students.
Learn about inquiry and problem solving activities that take place via the World Wide Web.
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