Decision-Making and the Impact of Work-Related Stress on Organizational Behavior

Essay by vjvj1234University, Bachelor'sA, October 2004

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Decision Making

What is decision-making? Decision-making is a process that has been derived from reasoning. It is a process that uses such methods a brainstorming, benchmarking, mind mapping and flow-charts to reach a decision. Decision-making follows a series of 6-8 steps to identify, evaluate and solve a problem. It also includes a method to evaluate the final decision and measure the impact of that decision.

Decision-making is central to human activity. Thus, we are all decision-makers. However, "good" decision-making starts with a consecutive, purposeful, strategic-thinking process. Decision-making can be applied to many of the problems we encounter on a day-to-day basis. However, we must ensure we are solving the main problem and not the symptoms or peripheral problems. That's why identifying the problem is one of the most important steps in the decision making process. Without problem definition you will be spinning your wheels trying to reach a decision.

Decision-making is a process that you can use to reach a decision and make a plan.

Having a plan in place helps reduce anxiety and gives you direction. It may be necessary to have an alternate plan in the event of change. Also, having a plan will allow you to identify strong and weak points as the plan is executed. This will allow for improvements on future projects.

Decision-making is the critical key to the survival of an organization, more so in this present time where we see economic boundaries between country crumble and businesses become more complex, global and knowledge-driven. Managers need to ensure that their organizations are continuously innovated and improved in order to achieve and maintain a sustainable competitive edge. Managers realize that if their organizations are to survive in this dynamic and uncertain environment, they have to make decisions concerning new business opportunities, products, customers, suppliers, markets...