Judgment and Decision Making

This is the stage for final deep mental reflection. The nature of knowledge requires that you possess some humility about the results of your work, even though you are ready to take action. While you have spent a lost of time and effort to reach a final decision, you must now change your attitude and suspend judgment. Do not fall in love with your concluding decision. Watch for other concepts or trains of thought as you implement your decision.

Dr. Crook's 1958 advice on suspended judgment:

• Stick to your conclusion until it is proven wrong.
• Keep an open mind and be ready to accept new evidence.
• Opinions thought correct today in light of present knowledge may be thought incorrect tomorrow because of new discoveries or projection of new ideas.

Accounting for Decision Making - the Nature of Science Is to Seek the Truth

This is often claimed, but it has come to be realized that "the truth" only means as far as it can be ascertained. Professor Gordon Childe (1936) explained that a final conclusion means "on the evidence available today, the balance of probability favors the view that."

Decision Making Problems - Remember Shades of Gray

Things are usually not just yes or no, true or false, or good or bad. Wait until you have heard or researched all the data before you reach a conclusion. Don't be misled by the first person's opinion you hear or the first data given to you. Keep an open mind. Remember the shades of gray principle. Things are not exact, but vary in degree of probable exactness.

Opposite of Open Mindedness

People with closed minds ignore contrary evidence, possibilities, and may have biases they can't see or overcome. They often can't see shades of gray or understand that the truth is seldom obtainable in complex matters.

Future Decision Making - Look Beyond this Decision

You are going to take action on your concluding decision. What happens in the future after this occurs and takes effect? What is the next problem requiring a decision?

Don't stick with a wrong or faulty decision because of a closed mind. If, after you take action, events occur that indicate it is not entirely or partially correct, take prompt action. Remember, you have suspended judgment and have foreseen possible trouble.

Decision Making under Uncertainty - Checklist of Possible Troubles after Making Decisions

Remember Dr. Crook's advice about sticking to your conclusion until proven wrong as you now advance to Stage 11 - Take Action. However, as a help to you in keeping an open mind and to trigger your mind, here is a checklist of things that may occur when making decisions under uncertainty. The probability of their occurring may be low, but the impact could be great. Remember that there is always risk in making progress, so don't let them scare you away from going ahead.