Decisions! Decisions!
Theoretical background:
Decision-making theory is not a unified branch of psychology or any other discipline. One
of the earliest attempts to formulate an empirical approach was utilitarianism, which advo-
cated weighing the utility of a decision, including the outcomes in terms of good and bad
results. Choosing a career might involve estimating the likely benefits against the chances
of success. In business a number of decision-making tools have been developed, most no-
tably the SWOT analysis (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, Threats). This exercise
offers students profiles of different types of decision-makers and asks them to consider
which is most like them.
Target group:
Students aged 16 – 19
exercise description:
Decision-making theory is not a unified branch of psychology or any other discipline. One
of the earliest attempts to formulate an empirical approach was utilitarianism, which advo-
cated weighing the utility of a decision, including the outcomes in terms of good and bad
results. Choosing a career might involve estimating the likely benefits against the chances
of success. In business a number of decision-making tools have been developed, most no-
tably the SWOT analysis (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, Threats).
Pedagogical aim:
A questionnaire presents a range of different situations and asks students to choose how
they would react from a set of multiple-choice questions. Their scores are then used to de-
fine which type of decision maker they are.
Time:
30 – 45 minutes
resources needed:
Photocopier