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B.2 Nature and Characteristics of Decisions
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| B.2 Nature and Characteristics of Decisions (i) Decision-making is so basic that no management function can be performed without it. For management purposes, decisions are obviously required in planning, organization, actuating, and controlling. ii) Managers at all organizational levels make decisions although they differ in terms of type and scope. At the top level of the organization, decisions establishing overall objectives and strategies are among the most important to be made. iii) Middle level managers are generally more involved with decisions involving overall operating policies and plans. First line supervisors, in turn, are concerned with short range decisions that relate to specific activities to be carried out within the framework of policies and plans, established at middle management levels. iv) Decision-making is the cornerstone of planning because it is the catalyst that drives the planning process. Furthermore, in deciding to adopt the best plan for achieving particular goals, decision-making basically reflects the selection of the best choice among possible alternatives and putting it into practice. v) Effective decision-making requires that the decision maker understands the situation driving the decision. However, it can be argued that management is simply decision- making and that the essence of managerial behaviour is found by studying decision- making. vi) In addition, decision-making often reflects a manager’s effort to make sense of the complicated environment, to attain some control over the uncontrollable and to achieve some sense of order. vii) Finally, when an organized approach to decision-making is employed, such as having a clear understanding of the present state of affairs, historical basis for improving decisions, and the possible errors that can be made, it enables managers to make better decisions and reach personal and organisational goals. B.3 Types of Decisions (a) Programmed and Non-programmed Decisions Download 3.37 Mb. Share with your friends:
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