Decision Making (Obaid)

A Workshop on:
Decision
Making
Conducted by:
Obaid Bilgarami
Corporate Trainer/ Consultant
EDGE Training & Consulting Firm
Objectives:
 To
know what actually  Decision Making
Decision is. Process
(by using simple and
effective tools)
Decision (definition):
Etymology
From Middle French, in turn
from Latin decisio, decisionis, from dēcīdō (“to
decide”).
 Directing your attention to consequences of a choice to our Values/

Feelings/ Mission/ Society/ Family and etc.
Defined by Dr. Edward DeBono
In any moment of decision, the best thing you can do is the right thing, the next best
thing is the wrong thing, and the worst thing you can do is nothing.
Theodore Roosevelt
Decision (Process):
 To cut off alternatives (Latin word)
 And
First
Thenthen
we
wediverge
fortify
we choose
our
to find
decisions
among
out alternatives
them
using some tools
And why
How isn’tUsually
Do We argument suitable
Make
for the purpose?
Decisions?
 Ego and Position gets involved

 Win Lose situation
 Through an Argument (Or a discussion usually

turn into Argument  )
And Then!!!!!!!!!
A head to head collision (No constructive thoughts and

decisions)
1. What is
Decision Making? 2. Barriers to Good
Decision Making
4. Decision Making 3. Decision

Tools Making Process
"No sensible decision can be made any longer
without taking into account not only the world as
it is, but the world as it will be. . ."
- Isaac Asimov
 Decision making is the cognitive process leading to the
selection of a course of action among alternatives.
 Every decision making process produces a final choice.
choice It can
be an action or an opinion.
opinion
 It begins when we need to do something but we do not know
what. Therefore, decision making is a reasoning process
which can be rational or irrational, and can be based on
explicit assumptions or tacit assumptions.
 Examples:
Shopping, deciding what to eat, What to wear, when to sleep,
etc..
Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Decision_making
“Successful leaders have the courage to take
action while others hesitate.”
- John C. Maxwell
Barriers to Good Decision Making
 Hasty - Making quick decisions without having much thought.
 Narrow - Decision making is based on very limited
information.
 Scattered - Our thoughts in making decisions are disconnected
or disorganized.
 Fuzzy - Sometimes, the lack of clarity on important aspects of
a decision causes us to overlook certain important
considerations.
“ Making good decisions is a crucial skill at
every level. ”
- Peter Drucker
Decision Making Process
1. Define the decision clearly.
2. Consider all the possible choices.
3. Evaluate all the pros and cons of each possible

choice.
4. Select the choice that seems to best meet the

needs of the situation.
5. Plan your act and then act your plan.

“Because I'm thinking in a broader way, I feel like
I am able to make better decisions.”
- Takafumi Horie
Usage of Simple/ Complex Tools
 Brainstorming (Broaden the horizons)
 SWOT Analysis
 Pareto Analysis
 Decision Tree, etc
 Parallel/Lateral Thinking
 Six Thinking Hats
Tool #1:
BRAIN STORMING
Brain Storming: Why?
 Human brain is self-rewarding system
 Brain works on bending, building and adapting IDEAS.
“I see my own rejected thoughts in the work of every
Every Idea Is Worthy
genius”
R. W. Emerson
Dumb Idea Good and
workable idea
What if newton was like most of us???

Brain Storming: How?
 And above all: “Make it FUN”
DO NOT:
 Define the problem clearly
 A facilitator must write down the ideas as they are
Evaluate, criticize and
expressed (On a flip chart)
laugh at any idea
 Try a warm-up exercise
 Encourage dumb ideas
Didn’t I tell you that Every

 Keep the pace brisk
Idea Is Worthy
Exercise
 Fund raising for a Charity Organization.
 How to create healthy environment in absence

of parks and resorts?
 How should coca cola compete launch one of

its products into the market?
Tool #2:
Strengths Weaknesses
Opportunities Threats
 SWOT analysis is a great technique for identifying
your Strengths and Weaknesses and study any
Opportunities and Threats you face.
 It is also a powerful strategic planning tool used to
evaluate a project or in a business venture or in any
other situation of an organization or individual
requiring a decision in pursuit of an objective.
 It involves monitoring the marketing environment
internal and external to the organization or individual.
Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SWOT_Analysis
SWOT Analysis Factors
 The aim of any SWOT analysis is to identify the key internal
and external factors that are important to achieving the
objective. SWOT analysis groups key pieces of information
into two main categories:
Strengths
Internal
Internal Factors
Factors
 Organization
Organization
Weaknesses
Opportunities
External
External Factors
Factors
 External
External Environment
Environment
Threats
Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SWOT_Analysis
Tools for Strategy Formulation
SO Strategies: Use strengths to take
advantage of Opportunities
WO Strategies: Overcome weaknesses to take

advantage of Opportunities
ST Strategies: Use Strengths to avoid Threats
WT Strategies: Minimize Weaknesses and

avoid Threats
Build on your
Strengths
Recognise your
Weakness
Evaluate your
Opportunities Research your
Threats
Group Activity
 Break into groups of 4 – 6.
 Identify a potential Project.
 Do a SWOT analysis to identify the key internal and external factors that are
important to consider (refer to the template).
 Assess the findings, and make a decision.
Example:
 Imagine you want to assess whether to settle abroad or not. Do a SWOT
analysis, assess and then make a decision. 
02 min Identify a potential project.

05 min Document your SWOT analysis findings in the template provided.
02 min Assess each factor out of 5.
01 min Make decision.
The Group leader must submit their findings in hard-copy or soft-copy format to the
lecturer after or during the workshop.
Tool #3:
The Pareto Principal

In 1879, the famous Italian economist Alfred Pareto, noticed that 80% of
Italy’s wealth was controlled by 20% of the population.
This concept is known as “Pareto’s Law” or “Pareto’s Rule” or “Pareto
Principle” or “Principle of imbalance” or simply “The 80/20 Rule”.
Subsequently, people in various disciplines and professions noticed that this
same 80/20 applied, in a broad way, to a wide range of phenomena. Dr.
Joseph Juran also recognized this concept as universal that could be applied to
many fields. He coined the term vital few and useful many.
The Pareto Principle –aka
The 80 – 20 Rule
The Pareto Principle – aka
The 80 – 20 Rule
The
VITAL FEW
Pareto Principle Also Applies to
Inventory $ & Purchase $
Inventory $
Purchase $
20%
80% $$$$
$$$$$$$$
$$$$$$$$
$$$$$$$$ 80%
$$$$ 20%
$$
Pareto Principle Also Applies to
Purchases & Suppliers
Suppliers Purchases
Pareto Principle
Also Applies to People
In-Put Output
Assignment
Summary
6.1 What is Decision Decision making is the cognitive process leading to the
selection of a course of action among alternatives.
Making?
6.2 Barriers to Good Hasty, Narrow, Scattered and Fuzzy decision making.
Decision Making
6.3 Decision Making 1. Define the decision clearly.

Process 2. Consider all the possible choices.
3. Evaluate pros and cons of each possible choice.
4. Select the choice that seems to best meet the needs
of the situation.
5. Plan your act and then act your plan.
6.4 Decision Making  Brainstorming (Broaden the horizons)

 SWOT Analysis
Tools  Pareto Analysis
 Decision Tree, etc
 Parallel/Lateral Thinking
 Six Thinking Hats
Q/A Session
Thank You!!!

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A Workshop on:

 Directing your attention to consequences of a choice to our Values/

Defined by Dr. Edward DeBono

 Ego and Position gets involved

 Through an Argument (Or a discussion usually

A head to head collision (No constructive thoughts and

4. Decision Making 3. Decision

2. Consider all the possible choices.

3. Evaluate all the pros and cons of each possible

4. Select the choice that seems to best meet the

5. Plan your act and then act your plan.

What if newton was like most of us???

Didn’t I tell you that Every

 Fund raising for a Charity Organization.

 How to create healthy environment in absence

 How should coca cola compete launch one of

WO Strategies: Overcome weaknesses to take

ST Strategies: Use Strengths to avoid Threats

WT Strategies: Minimize Weaknesses and

02 min Identify a potential project.

The Pareto Principal

6.3 Decision Making 1. Define the decision clearly.

6.4 Decision Making  Brainstorming (Broaden the horizons)

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