The Social Side of Decision Making - Essay Example

That the man earned $10 because, after all the transactions he engaged in, he ended up with a profit of $10. However, taking into account Amy's response on the problem, it surfaced that logically, and within the business context, the man ended up earning $20, for the two determined transactions stated in the case. Thus, the difference between Bennett's and Amy's responses was the context in which both members analyzed the problem. Bennett considered the man's transactions as a continuous process, hence producing a profit of $10.

Amy, on the other hand, applied the case in terms of isolating each transaction conducted by the man, hence coming up with the $20 answer. An important principle shown in the activity is the application of the right context in a problem in order to come up with the right or correct answer. Just like in the case of Bennett and Amy, my propensity to agree with Bennett's analysis stemmed from the fact that I looked into the case of events as a series of interrelated events, since technically speaking, the same horse was being sold and bought.

However, listening to Amy's reasoning, I realized that I should be looking into the case as two separate transactions that constitute two different events of profit-making, from the man's point of view. This realization made me think about how decision-making must be done in the business context. Again, the context from which the case came from or was created is an important factor in decision-making, since decisions are made because there is an expected outcome or consequence from the decision or resolution implemented.

If decisions are made in the wrong context, the outcome would not benefit the decision-maker and the organization/company s/he represents, however, sound the decision may be. In decision-making, the influence of another person in the process of decision-making is a vital component to stimulate one's ability to critically think about his/her decision, as well as another decision proposed by another team member. The inclusion of another person's opinion creates the dynamics that allow team members to not only think critically but be able to produce or think of decisions and resolutions that will eventually benefit the team and the organization-the stakeholders, in general.