This document provides guidance on effective decision making. It outlines an 8 step decision making loop: 1) identify the problem, 2) gather facts, 3) explore options, 4) choose an option, 5) evaluate the option, 6) implement the decision, 7) monitor the impact, and 8) modify the decision if needed. The steps emphasize clearly defining the problem, researching options thoroughly, considering pros and cons, implementing the chosen option, and reviewing the results of the decision. Quotes are included that stress the importance of decision making and allowing unconscious thought to guide major life decisions.

1. Decision
Making
Skills

2. Appropriate Decision
LEADERSHIP
Step
Towards

3. You really don’t know
where a road will lead
you too until you take it.

4. Making decision is a difficult process that consist
of identifying and selecting alternatives, criteria,
and possible outcomes, to improve a situation.
Whether decisions are Straight forward or
Complex a methodical and systematic approach
will lead to success

5. Decision making is something you do morning, noon,
and at night.
Making Decision is a part of your life whether you like
it or not, you make decision all the time.
You can become quite adept and get plenty of practice in
developing the necessary skills to help you in making the
right decision.

6. Lost
Unsure
Disoriented
Psychological Impact on Human brain when
comes to decision making

7. “It does not matter which
side of the fence you get off
on sometimes. What
matters most is getting off.
You cannot make progress
without making decisions.”
(Jim Rohn)

8. Have you always
had problems to
make difficult
decisions?

9. Here is some advice to
show you how to take the
pain out of making
difficult decisions, to make
your best choices and get it
over and done with.

10. Decision making Loop
It’s an 8 steps logical
structured
methodology for
making a decision.

11. 1. Identify the
problem
2. Gather the
facts
3. Explore the
options
4. Choose the
option
5. Evaluate the
option
6. Implement
the decision
7. Monitor the
impact
8. Modify the
decision
Decision making Loop

12. Don’t try to be a
SUPERMAN or McGYVER
jumping into solutions
without identifying the
issue/problem.
1. Identify the Problem

13. • Define the basis for the issue / problem
you want to focus on.
• There may be multiple issues /
problems – Focus on one major i.e.
one at a time.
• If the issue/problem is stated
incorrectly or unclear than your
decision will be wrong.
1. Identify the Problem

14. Define
Test
Analyze
Compare
1. Identify the Problem

15. • Questions to ask: Who, What, Where,
How, and Why??
• However facts may be difficult to find
because of uncertainty often revolves
around issues/problem.
• Some facts are not available.
• Assemble as many facts as possible before
proceeding.
• Clarify what assumptions you are making.
2. Gather the facts

16. Define
Test
Analyze
Compare
What, When, &
Where???
How???
Why???
What Next ???
2. Gather the facts

17. Some important facts gathering tools:
• 5 W’s – What, When, Where, Who,
and Why???
• Fishbone (Ishikawa) diagram –
Material, Measurement, Machine,
Method, Environment, & Employee.
• Other statistical tools.
2. Gather the facts

18. All necessary available facts, opinion, and
data have to be collected. This important
because sometimes solutions can come out
from these OUT OF THE BOX ideas.
Try to do more research to come up with the
necessary facts that would aid in solving the
problem.
2. Gather the facts

19. What are the possible options?
Several of these may have variations, sometimes the
options are few, but sometimes they are numerous.
But what do you do when you think that the situation
offers no options?
This is the time when you create you own. Creative
mind always WIN!!!
3. Explore the options

20. The most promising options should be
discussed and analyzed to determine how they
may be applied and what result they may
produce. Consider how options may relate to
another and some options may have common
components or make implementation of other
options easier.
!!! Identify options that need more
research or clarification!!!
3. Explore the options

21. Select the option that seems more
appropriate based on each of these
factors:
• Your own values
• Positive and Negative consequences
• Your present and future goals
• Their effect on others
4. Choose the option

22. REMEMBER!!!
There are no GUARANTEES
Wrong decisions are always at hind
sight
BELIEVE on YOURSELF that you are choosing
the best option at this point in time.
4. Choose the option

23. • Think about potential positive and negative consequences
for effected parties by the decision (focus on primary
stakeholders to simplify analysis until you become
comfortable with the process).
• What are the magnitude of the consequences and the
probability that the consequences will happen.
• SHORT TERM Vs LONG TERM consequences: will
decision will valid over time?
• Broader systematic consequences – tied to symbolic and
secrecy:
 Symbolic consequences – Each decision sends a
message
 Secrecy consequences – What are the consequences
if the decision or action becomes public
5. Evaluate the option(s)

24. Did you consider relevant
cognitive barriers/biases?
Consider what you decision would
be based only on Consequences –
than move on and see if it is
similar given other
considerations.
5. Evaluate the option(s)

25. Decision has no value unless you
implement it.
To implement the decision means TO PUT
INTO ACTION!!!
Process of decision is not complete until it
is implemented and you have learnt to
live with the consequences
6. Implement the decision

26. REMEMBER!!!
Knowing something is not RIGHT.
(Particularly relevant if you have
lot of experience in the area)
6. Implement the decision

27. At this stage you have to
keep a close eye on the
progress of the solutions
taken and also whether it
has led to the results you
expected.
7. Monitor the Impact

28. Whether it is the RIGHT decision or
WRONG, only TIME can tell.
Never regret it whatever the outcome.
INSTEAD
LEARN from it and remember that
you always have the chance to make
better decisions in the future.
7. Monitor the Impact

29. Use various
Statistical
Analysis tools
including Graphs
7. Monitor the Impact

30. It consists in determining
necessary changes and
makes supplementary
decision for adopting the
most urgent one thereby
modifying the decision.
8. Modify the decision

31. “When making a decision of minor importance, I
have always found it advantageous to consider all the
pros and cons. In vital matters, however, such as the
choice of a mate or a profession, the decision should
come from the unconscious, from somewhere within
ourselves.
In the important decisions of personal life, we should
be governed, I think, by the deep inner need of our
nature.”
(Sigmund Freud)
Important QUOTE

32. So the next time you have
To make a decision, try to use
This decision making loop.