Research Report #8 Bad Decisions
Many people inquire about the reasons for bad and poor decision making.
Decision Making Under Uncertainty
It should be recognized that risks are inherent in dealing with the future.
Thus some well researched decisions can at times turn out to be bad ones.
Decision Making Skills Are Not Taught Enough in our Schools –
Result Is Bad Decisions
Because of misunderstandings about the scientific method, problem solving
and decision making are not extensively taught in our schools. People lack
decision making skills training and decision making lessons to enable them to make
good decisions rather than bad decisions.
Bad Decisions Result from Not Using a Model, Method, or Process
Because of not using a model, method, or process, many people, in making
decisions, just proceed by chance and are not familiar with a model, method,
or process to follow. This increases the chance of a bad decision being
made. Judgment and decision making are bound together. Bad decision making
results in poor judgment.
Good Model, Method, Process, or Formula Has Been Missing, Resulting
in Bad Decisions
While the literature contains many models or formulas, they vary widely
and are usually too short and thus incomplete. Now that the SM-14 process
described on this site is available, it should be adopted as a standard.
Intuitive Decision Making Often Results in Bad Decisions
A huge number of intuitive decisions are made. Many people depend on their
gut feeling alone in making decisions. In many cases this is necessary because
of time and urgency. But on complex decisions, intuition should always be
reinforced by going through either the short or long model of the complete
method of creative problem solving and decision making, SM-14.
Group Decision Making and Team Decision Making
Management decision making and business decision making often involve groups
and teams to help or make decisions. Getting a group to work together in
shared decision making efficiently in administrative decision making is
not easy. Often bad decisions result because everyone goes in their own
directions and lack of decision making leadership. If a team or group is given a model or process for decision
making, such as SM-14, they can then work in unity and are more likely to
collaborate to produce a good decision rather than a bad decision.
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