Decision Making

We all make decisions every day - shall I get up when the alarm goes off, or stay in bed another 10 minutes; do I want cereal or a cooked breakfast; do I want to walk or get the bus?Whichever decision we make there is an associated negative and positive impact. The decision may be a 'gut reaction', but the consequences have also had an effect on that final decision.Deciding what to have for breakfast is not good training for business decision-making! In business decisions can be far-reaching in their effect and that makes it really important to make a good one.Decision-making is sometimes done alone, sometimes in groups and sometimes in a linear system - where one person makes the initial decision and then has to justify it to someone else who then amends, changes or agrees to it. This chain can extend to three or four people at times.Sound decision-making is a useful skill - however, it does not guarantee that your decisions will always be right! Robert Townsend, who launched the car hire giant Avis, reckoned he made a good decision once out of every three times!Given that he is considered to be a very successful businessman it gives the rest of us some hope, and reassurance when we find we made a poor decision.This Book is designed to give you some tools and guidance on scientific decision making so at least you can be sure that you did everything humanly possible to make a good decision.This is the 11th booklet in the 'Hands On Management: Managing Yourself' series by author Lesley Morrissey; a human resources manager, management trainer and commercial copywriter.