Decision Making United Nations Lecture MA

Decision Making

1. The Decision-making ProcessThe Decision-making Process
Thoughts, Ideas and Practice

2. Decision-making
As defined by Baker et al in their 2001
study, “efficient decision-making involves a
series of steps that require the input of
information at different stages of the
process, as well as a process for feedback”.

3. Decisions
•Made up of a composite of information,
data, facts and belief.
•Data by itself does not constitute useful
information unless it is analyzed and
processed.

4. A DecisionA Decision
Is only as good as the data that informed it
Is only as good as it is an informed one
Is only as good as the system which exists
to implement
Is only good if you have the means to
implement it
Is only good if other people understand it
and what it means

5. The Ideal Decision-making The Ideal Decision-making
ProcessProcess
STEP 1
Define the problem
STEP 3
Establish goals that
solving the problem
should accomplish
STEP 4
Identify alternatives
that will solve the
problem
STEP 5
Develop valuation
criteria based on the
goals
STEP 6
Select a decision-
making Tool
STEP 7
Apply the tool to
select a
preferred alternative
STEP 8
Check the answer
to make sure it
solves the problem
The Decision-making Process (adapted from Baker et al, 2001)
STEP 2
Determine the
requirements that the
solution to the
problem must meet

6. The RealityThe Reality
Is the Problem really the problem?
Problems are often the symptom and not the
true problem.
Most often that not steps 5-8 are either
forgotten, avoided or simply ignored.
Urgency – is there a quick version?
Who has time to follow-up? Tomorrow is
another problem.