Lesson 2: Decision-making Flashcards
The engineer manager’s __________ skills will be very crucial to his success as a professional.
decision-making
DECISION-MAKING AS A MANAGEMENT RESPONSIBILITY
The higher the management level is, the bigger and the (more or less?) complicated decision-making becomes.
more
WHAT IS DECISION-MAKING?
It is the process of identifying and choosing alternative courses of action in a manner appropriate to the demands of the situation.
Decision-making
Decision-making, according to ________ and others, “is the heart of all the management functions.
Decisions are made at various management levels (i.e., top, middle, and lower levels) and at various management functions (i.e., planning, organizing, directing, and controlling).
Nickels
THE DECISION-MAKING PROCESS
Rational decision-making, according to David H. Holt, is a process involving the 8 steps:
Give them all.
- diagnose problem
- analyze environment
- articulate problem or opportunity
- develop viable alternatives
- evaluate alternatives
- make a choice
- implement decision
- evaluate and adapt decision results
THE DECISION-MAKING PROCESS
An expert once said “______________________ is tantamount to having the problem half-solved.”
identification of the problem
THE DECISION-MAKING PROCESS
It occurs when there is a difference between an actual situation and a desired situation.
Problem
THE DECISION-MAKING PROCESS
The objective of environmental analysis is the identification of constraints, which may be spelled out as either _________ or ___________ limitations.
internal, external
THE DECISION-MAKING PROCESS
Give three examples of internal limitations.
- Limited funds available for the purchase of equipment.
- Limited training on the part of employees.
- ill-designed facilities.
THE DECISION-MAKING PROCESS
Give three examples of external limitations.
- Patents are controlled by other organizations.
- A very limited market for the company’s products and services exists.
- Strict enforcement of local zoning regulations.
THE DECISION-MAKING PROCESS
The environment consists of two major concerns:
internal, external
THE DECISION-MAKING PROCESS
The _________ environment refers to organizational activities within a firm.
internal
THE DECISION-MAKING PROCESS
The __________ environment refers to variables that are outside the organization and not typically within the short-run control of top management.
external
THE DECISION-MAKING PROCESS
Oftentimes, problems may be solved by any of the solutions offered. The best among the alternative solutions must be considered by management. This is made possible by using a procedure with the following steps:
- Prepare a list of alternative solutions.
- Determine the viability of each solutions.
- Revise the list
THE DECISION-MAKING PROCESS
Proper ___________ makes choosing the right solution less difficult.
evaluation
THE DECISION-MAKING PROCESS
_________ suggests that “each alternative must be analyzed and evaluated in terms of its value, cost, and risk characteristics.”
Souder
THE DECISION-MAKING PROCESS
The ___________________________ refers to benefits that can be expected.
value of the alternatives
THE DECISION-MAKING PROCESS
The _______________________ refers to out-of-pocket costs.
cost of the alternative