Chapter 3: Decision-making and problem-solving 53At the same time, it is essential to understand the other factors which
can limit the range and choice of options or their applicability.
Judgement (again beware false assumptions – including about
these factors) is needed about:
1Time
2 Information
3 Resources
4 Knowledge.
You have to know the real (not assumed) limits which the above
factors can impose on the options available to you.
Generating options, particularly if, initially, there seems to be only
one, will usually lead to better decision-making. This is where
imagination, creative-thinking and intuition can help.
Considering fresh possibilities and suspending judgement whilst
generating them (through brainstorming) can increase the range
of options by avoiding negativity as in:
- ‘It won’t work’
- ‘We do it this way’
- ‘It can’t be done’
- ‘It failed before’.
In weighing the options you must refine your skills at considering
the consequences, both the possible and the probable.This will lead
to assessment of risk and reward and both should be carefully
calculated.
Can you accept the risk of failure – what is the worst that can happen
if it fails and can I accept it?
Judgement then is used in selecting from the range of options
which have been carefully weighed and assessed as to their probable
outcomes.