Important Steps In The Decision Making Process

Important Steps in the Decision Making Process

Making choices is something we all do every day, from deciding what to wear to figuring out what to eat. Some decisions are small, and some are big. But no matter the size, having a good way to make decisions can really help you out. It’s like having a map for your thoughts – it guides you to the best place! Let’s explore the important steps that can help you make the best possible choice every time.

Identifying the Problem or Opportunity

Before you can decide, you need to know what you’re deciding about! This might sound obvious, but sometimes the real problem is hidden under other things. It’s like when you see a puzzle – you need to look at all the pieces and figure out what the picture is going to be.

What Does Identifying the Problem Really Mean?

Identifying the problem means figuring out what’s causing you to need to make a decision. Is it a problem you want to fix? Or maybe an opportunity you want to jump on? For example, maybe your bike has a flat tire (problem), or maybe you’ve been offered a chance to join a really cool club (opportunity). It’s very important to be clear what the main issue is before moving on. Here’s how you can dig deeper:

• Ask Questions: Keep asking “why?” Why is your bike tire flat? Why do you want to join this club? Getting to the root of the issue helps a lot.
• Look Closely: Are there other small problems related to the main problem? Is the club you want to join a good fit for your interests, or are you just excited? This helps to see the full picture.
• Talk to Others: Sometimes, other people can see things you miss. Share your issue with a friend or family member. They might have a different perspective.

Example

Let’s say you’re feeling tired all the time. Is that just how it is? Maybe not. You need to figure out what is making you tired. It could be that you’re not getting enough sleep, or maybe you’re not eating enough nutritious food. Maybe it is both of those things? When you figure out the real reason (the problem), you can start to think about the best way to get more energy. Figuring out the problem is the first important step.

Gathering Relevant Information

Once you know what you need to decide, it’s time to become a detective. You need to collect information that will help you make the best choice. This is kind of like doing research for a school project. You wouldn’t just write anything for a project; you’d find information to help you write the best paper possible, right? Decision-making is the same way.

What Kind of Information Should You Look For?

• Facts: These are things that are true and can be proven. If you are deciding which bike to buy, look up the weight, price, features, etc.
• Opinions: Find out what people think. What do they like or dislike about different options? See if other people who own a similar bike like their bike.
• Experiences: How did others do when faced with a similar choice? If you are deciding if you want to try a new sport, find someone who plays it and see how their experience was when they started.
• Cost-Benefit Analysis: What are the pros and cons of each choice? If you are deciding if you should buy a new video game, you will consider the pros (fun, exciting) and the cons (price, time spent).

Where Can You Find This Information?

• The Internet: There are many websites with tons of information. Just be sure to use trusted sources.
• Books and Magazines: These are great places to learn about different topics.
• People: Talk to people who have experience with the thing you are deciding about.

Example

Let’s say you’re trying to decide what to do for your birthday party. You need information, right? You’ll need to think about how many friends you can invite, where you could have the party, what kind of food you should serve, how much each option will cost. This information is important to help you decide what kind of party you can plan and that you will like.

Identifying Alternatives

Sometimes it can feel like you only have one choice, but that’s usually not true. It’s important to think about all the different ways you could go when you are making a decision, which is called identifying alternatives. It’s like when you have a few different paths you can take when playing a game. You need to look at all the options available to you.

What Are Alternatives?

Alternatives are the different options available to you. They are all the possible actions you can take to achieve what you want. Coming up with more alternatives can give you a better chance of making the best decision.

• Think Outside the Box: Don’t just think about the first idea you have. Try to be creative!
• Don’t Rule Anything Out Too Early: Sometimes an idea you think is silly can turn out to be pretty good.
• Brainstorm: Write down all of your ideas, and don’t worry about if they are good or bad yet. Just make a list!

Example

If you are deciding how to get to school, your alternatives could include walking, biking, taking the bus, or getting a ride from a parent. Once you have a list of alternatives, you can look at each one carefully and decide which one works best for you.

Evaluating Alternatives

Once you have a list of different ways you could go, you need to see which option is best. It’s like having a bunch of different candies and figuring out which one you want to eat. You need to compare them, and think about which one you’d enjoy the most. This is called evaluating the alternatives.

How Do You Evaluate Alternatives?

When you evaluate, you look at each option and decide how good it is based on the things that matter to you. This can be a little tricky, but here are some ways to help you:

• Pros and Cons List: For every option, make a list of what’s good about it (pros) and what’s bad about it (cons).
• Think about Your Goals: Does this option help you get to where you want to go?
• Consider the Consequences: What might happen if you choose this option? Will it be good or bad?

Making a Pros and Cons Table

A table can be a really great way to keep your thinking organized. Here’s an example of what a simple table might look like:

Example

If you’re picking which after-school activity to do, you will make a list of the pros and cons of each one. Do you want to do something active (soccer, dance), or more calm (art club, book club)? Some options might cost more money than others. Some options might be easier to get to than others. Think through what you want, and think through the results of your choices.

Making the Decision

After thinking carefully about your problem, gathering information, thinking about all the options, and comparing each one, you are finally ready to decide! It’s like getting to the end of a game and picking the prize. Making a decision can be scary, but you have done all the hard work so now it’s time to decide what is best for you.

How to Choose the Best Option?

• Trust Your Gut: Sometimes, your feelings can guide you to the best choice. After you look at the information, pick the option that feels right.
• Don’t Overthink: It’s great to plan, but don’t think for too long and get lost. Pick the best choice from the choices you have and move on.
• Be Confident: You did all the steps, be confident in the choice you are making.

Example

So, you looked at all the options for your birthday party, and now you have to choose. Maybe you thought the park idea is the best one because it’s fun, free, and close by. Once you decide, you can start making your plans and getting excited!

Implementing the Decision

Okay, you have made your choice. Awesome! Now you have to actually do what you decided to do. This is like building something after you figured out all the steps on how to build it. It’s time to take action and make your decision a reality. This is the action part, and this part is just as important as the thinking part!

What Does Implementing the Decision Mean?

Implementing means putting your decision into action. It means doing the things you need to do so that your choice happens. It can mean making phone calls, filling out forms, buying materials, or whatever your decision calls for.

Example

Let’s go back to that birthday party decision. You picked the park. Now what? You have to actually make it happen! That means:

• Pick a date
• Send out invitations
• Pack snacks and games
• Get ready to have fun!

Without doing all those things, your park party will not happen. Implementing the decision makes your plans real.

Reviewing the Decision

After you make a decision and follow through with it, you want to check and see how it went. Did it work out the way you wanted it to? This step is like looking at your work after you finished it to see if everything is how it should be. This will help you learn for the future.

Why Review Your Decision?

• Learn from Your Mistakes: If your decision wasn’t perfect, you can learn how to do better next time.
• Celebrate Your Successes: If your decision worked out well, celebrate that! And think about what you did that worked so you can do it again!
• Make Improvements: Maybe some parts worked great and some could be better next time. You can adjust your process in the future.

Example

After your birthday party, think about how it went. Did everyone have a good time? Did it cost too much or not enough? Did all the planning get done on time? What would you do differently if you could do it again? When you do this, you are reviewing your decision. It’s important to learn from this, so you can be even better at making great choices in the future.

These steps might seem like a lot of work, but when you practice them they will become easier. Making good choices is a really important skill, and with practice you can be a great decision-maker!