Effective Strategies for Enterprise Decision-Making
Strategies to Improve Decision-Making in the Enterprise
Decision trees assess the various possible consequences of a decision.
- Decision Node: A point where a person must decide among several choices when facing a problem.
- Probability Node: At this point, the process takes a random event.
- Branch: Shows the possible paths to take after each of the two nodes.
The SWOT method is used to analyze the possibilities of implementing new decisions in a company. The analysis is done on two levels:
- Internal to the company: Strengths and Weaknesses.
- External to the company: Opportunities and Threats.
The “As Is” technique aims to anticipate the possible consequences of a decision. Each alternative is submitted to a sequence of questions, with “as is” being the axis of interrogation.
The technique of “Why” first identifies the problem and subjects it to the first “Why?”, which provides an answer. These responses are again raised with a new “Why?” and so on until the answers are exhausted.
Techniques to Improve Group Decision-Making
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Achieve active participation of members of a large group. It is divided into subgroups of six members, who discuss the problem for 6 minutes. Each group should appoint a spokesperson who notes the views and presents the group’s solutions. Once all the reports have been read, conclusions are drawn.
Nominal Group Technique
A moderator team formulates the problem statement and asks each member of the group to write as many possible answers anonymously. Finally, each group member, anonymously and in writing, assigns a score to the ideas. The moderator collects the ratings, and the idea with the most votes is chosen.
Delphi Technique
Consists of the following:
- Identification of the problem.
- Selection of participants.
- Creation of an initial questionnaire that the participants have to answer about the problem.
- Analysis of the first questionnaire. The responses are categorized, and each member answers a second questionnaire, ranking the solutions in order of importance with a numerical mark.
- New responses are analyzed, and the most voted are summarized. From these data, a third questionnaire is performed.
- Each member answers the third questionnaire, voting for the most appropriate solution among those that appear there.
- Development of a final report with the data obtained, which is sent to the person who will make the final decision.
Techniques to Improve Creativity
Brainstorming: The group leader presents a problem and asks a question; group participants answer with everything that comes to mind. When the group has developed all the ideas, two paths can be followed.
Tips for Making Decisions:
- Don’t lose confidence in yourself.
- Don’t give up.
- Have people responsible.
- Give things their proper importance.
- Don’t get overwhelmed.
Decision-Making Process
- Know and analyze the problem: Information is collected (people involved, when, where, how, resources to solve). Finally, the problem is placed within an overview of the company, given its scope, its relevance, and whether it will be repeated in the future.
- Differentiate what is desirable from the current situation: The expected desirable situation is defined, and differences are sought and evaluated.
- Analyze the possible causes and determine the most probable: Determine the most likely causes, eliminating the less probable ones, until a scenario in which a cause is identified as the source of much of the problem.
- Search, evaluate, and select the best alternative: Make a list of all possible paths that lead to achieving the objectives. Identify the advantages and disadvantages of each, and finally, select the best one.
- Execute the decision: Select the people who will run it and then carry it out.
- Check the results: Verify whether the decision helps to meet objectives, and ensure that those responsible for executing it do so within the time and according to the instructions received.