Effective Decision Making

Effective Decision Making

Unit Aims :

The unit will look at the different ways that decisions are taking by companies by exploring approaches to decision making, implementing decisions and the way in which knowledge can be used within organisations. With the growth of IT and customisation, few decisions are straightforward enough for managers to rely on the answers that have been successful in past years.

To remain competitive, organisations need to develop decision-making processes that use all the current information and knowledge available in the workplace, workforce and beyond. Consequently, today’s decision making becomes more of a problem-solving process. In addition, increasing workforce empowerment and expectation means that the decision-making process for competitive organisations needs to be a much more participative process.

Otherwise, management will not gain the information and knowledge they need and will also lose the commitment required to ensure decisions taken become effective. So, while the act of decision taking effectively remains with the manager responsible, the process of decision making needs to involve all the stakeholders within the managers’ immediate workplace and beyond. This ensures that the decision taken is owned by all whom have to work with it.

The unit aims to equip the learner with the means to manage the process of decision-making rather than the outcome or decision itself. By recognising methods of decision taking, the learner can stress the need for greater participation of stakeholders to ensure pro-activity and innovation.

Learning Outcomes

Assessment Criteria

1. Review relevant issues that are important to making business decisions

• Review several different business issues where decisions are needed and analyse stakeholder needs and expectations for each case
• Research and review all relevant information and knowledge on the business issues where decisions are needed

2. Explore approaches to the decisionmaking process and how to improve approach

• Evaluate processes for obtaining relevant information on business issues for given organisations and identify where any strengths or weaknesses in approach exists
• Take decisions based upon information gained, provide justifications and say how the decision should be disseminated
• Make recommendations for improvements to the decision making process and make sure there is relevant participation in the process

3. Recommend approaches to improve decision making

• Plan for, communicate and oversee new approaches to decision making
• Identify and develop measures to allow the effectiveness of the decision making process to be evaluated

INDICATIVE ASSESSMENT

• The assessment strategy for this unit is designed to test all the learning outcomes.
• Learners must demonstrate successful achievement of all learning outcomes to pass the unit.
• A number of formative exercises will guide the learner to evaluate and analyse appropriate knowledge of the subject matter before attempting the exam and/or summative assignment.

Unit Pass Requirements

• To pass the unit a 40% overall grade must be achieved.

Assessment marking criteria

• The assessment criteria for a pass will be presented with the summative exercise.
• Further information and guidance on the assessment will be made available through the unit tutor.

CORE TEXT

• The text for this unit has been taken from:
• Whetton D., Cameron, K., (2011). Developing Management Skills, Chapter 3 and 10, Pearson.
• Johnson, G., Whittington, R., Angwin, D., Regner, P., Scholes, K., & Pyle, S. (2013). Exploring Strategy:
  Text and Cases. Pearson.
• Dibbs S., Simkins, (2016). Marketing Concepts and Strategies, Chapter 2 Competitive strategy and
  Dibbs Chapter 22 Managing the Marketing Mix, Cengage.
• Robbins, D., (2011) Fundamentals of Management Chapter 2 The Management Environment,