Common Styles of Decision Making - Essay Example

Knowledge and Decision-Making (Course Name and Code) (Institutions’ Name) (Departments’ Name) (Students’ Name) (Students’ Number) (Instructors Name) November 11, 2008 Knowledge may be thought has an overview of previous or past decisions that have proved to be effective and efficient. Hence, knowledge is something in the past in its very nature. Therefore, people are educated so that they make today’s decisions effective in the times that will come later. This does not mean that the decisions that are made today can comprise all the circumstances that will come out during implementation time. This leads to two common styles of decision making; rational and intuitive. The rational style ensures that all information is available, and the information is consistent and at the same time logical before making any decision, hence minimal uncertainty. On the other hand, intuitive type looks at the whole issue without any structure or order and has effect of ambiguity. Hence, the two dimensions give birth to four different decision making styles: analytic, directive, conceptual and behavioral. Directive Style Directive decision-making style usually has a small tolerance for ambiguity and mostly is rational in its application. It is usually efficient because of its logical nature and the decisions that are made are fast and usually focus on short run issues. Nevertheless, directive decision making ensures that the decisions that are made are based on minimal information and alternatives that are derived are few. In this case, knowledge plays an important role in ensuring that the decisions that are made are applicable and ensures that result that is achieved is desirable. In most cases, those people who have been given the responsibilities as leaders of groups and organizations have to have wide amount of knowledge. Leaders direct people to accomplish certain duty that they may not have the capacity of direction to accomplish it (Schwartz 2003, p. 81). Hence, the leader has a wide knowledge before they are given the opportunity to lead and the knowledge contributes to the decisions that are made when the process is going on. Knowledge ensures that the directed directions are made at the time that is needed the most with the minimal information or data that is available. Generally, knowledge plays an important role when guiding people who have minimal information to make the required decisions. Analytic Style This type of style has greater tolerance for ambiguity. Thus, more information is required before decisions are made which results into many considerations and alternatives. Hence, decisions that are made are based on analytic aspect and are able to cope or adapt with unique and emerging circumstances. In the analysis of a decision employing the analytic method, knowledge plays an important role in generating alternatives, recognizing, searching for the information and selecting the right action. Knowledge is required in breaking down large amounts of information to portions that can be based on in making any decision (Schwartz 2003, p. 69). Therefore, because a problem is analyzed first before a decision is made, the people who are involved have different level of knowledge. This means that old school knowledge can be mixed with modern school knowledge in ensuring that the decision that is made features both worlds. It is able for the leaders in these teams or in the company to receive enough information and employ the knowledge that they have to accomplish a mission. Hence, in a working scenario, most people whether still new in the company or have been with the company for sometime have to make different types of decisions. The workers have to check the details of the situation, looks and the principles and policies of the organization, which includes ethical matters in determining the right decision. Conceptual Style Conceptual types of decisions are usually broad in its outlook and derive or look at various alternatives. It is usually important in those scenarios that are required for a long run period and result in creative solutions to solve the problems. The decisions that are made ensure that all considerations that constitute the company have brought into play (Greenlaw 2005, p. 96). In such scenarios, the aspect or problem is analyzed with the help of knowledge that determines long-term solution for a problem or a circumstance. Knowledge plays a central role in ensuring that sectors that are associated with company are brought into play before the decisions are made. Hence, different concepts that determine an organization and are obtained through the knowledge that the workers have ensure that the decision that is made is the best. Behavioral Style Decisions that are made based on achievements on the people who are around and it is ready to receive suggestions from people involved. It this kind of decision-making they employ meetings in which they communicate and ensures that conflict it avoided utmost. Hence, the decisions that will be made will ensure that other people views have been incorporated (Greenlaw 2005, p. 90). In such decision style, the knowledge of the people who are involved is placed into consideration when and before making decisions. Previous knowledge and information that concerns different workers ensure that consideration of the people who are involved are brought into focus. Attitudes, temperamental and understandability of different workers through previous accomplishment and day-to-day activities ensures that people will accomplish means to define and make decisions (Schwartz 2003, p. 67). Most decisions that are made in this case, revolves around meetings and teams. The people and workers that constitute these groups or company have different level of knowledge, which to some extent can be termed as experience. Hence, the different knowledge from the workers ensures that the decisions that are made have some contribution from the workers. Hence, the decision that is made in conclusive and different views is incorporated. Decisions are important are things that cannot be avoided and are supposed to be made. Therefore, when decisions call, it brings in decision making which is a thinking activity. Hence, decisions are made in categorizing, analyzing, evaluating, discovering and reflecting on a problem. There are different ways and methods that contribute in making decisions that basis there outcomes on knowledge of the people who are making the decisions. There are four decision-making styles: directive, conceptual, behavior and analytic in ensuring that the right decision is made at the right moment. Reference Greenlaw, L. (2005). Management Decision Making. Arlington, TX: Schema Press. Kreitner, R. & Kinicki, A. Organizational Behavior. Available from http://www.mhhe.com/business/management/kreitner_OBjump/ Schwartz, S. (2003). Human Judgment and Decision Processes. London: Wiley Publishers Read More