There is more than one approach to decision-making. Decisions will vary based on the individuals making them, all of whom may have different decision-making styles. By understanding your own decision-making style, you will have a more informed idea of how effective your decisions are currently and how you can make better decisions in the future. In this Discussion, you will determine whether your own decision-making style supports your current professional practice and future goals.
Required Resources
Managerial Problem Solving and Decision Making
In their roles, managers will encounter problems and will need to make decisions. Not only will this statement be true for anyone in a management position, it will likely be true over and over again throughout a workday and throughout a manager’s career. Solving problems and making decisions are some of the most important skills a manager can possess, and these skills can be developed and strengthened. The following resources focus on problem-solving and decision-making methods, as well as on processes that can be incorporated into managerial practice.
Katopol, P. F. (2015). Groupthink: Group dynamics and the decision-making process. Library Leadership & Management, 30(1), 1-6.
Lussier, R. N. (2017). Management fundamentals: Concepts, applications, & skills development (7th ed.). Thousand Oaks, CA: CAGE.
Chapter 4, “Creative Problem Solving and Decision Making” (pp. 97-119)
Yates, J. F. (2018). Decision management: A game plan to achieve organizational grand slams. Retrieved from https://www.bus.umich.edu/FacultyResearch/Research/DecisionManagement.html
McNamara, C. (n.d.). Problem-solving and decision making (solving problems and making decisions). Retrieved January 15, 2019, from https://managementhelp.org/personal productivity/problem-solving.htm
To prepare for this Discussion:
• Review this week’s Learning Resources.
• Take the self-assessment on pp. 99–100 of Lussier (2017) to determine your decision-making style. Consider whether you agree with the results of the assessment and how you might leverage this understanding to improve your own approach to work and management of self or others.
Use APA 7th edition citation and references. Respond to the following:
• Do you agree with the outcome of the self-assessment? Why or why not?
• Do you feel that this style is most effective for your current professional practice and future goals? If so, how could you leverage the strengths of this style to make good decisions in your professional life? If you don’t feel this style is most effective for you, how might you change your approach to be more in line with your professional goals?
• As a manager, how might you use the outcome of this self-assessment to improve one thing about your work?
• To support your response, be sure to reference at least two properly cited scholarly sources and include specific examples from your own experience, where applicable.
