Problem solving and decision making

Problem solving and decision making are important processes in any organization, as well in everyday life. Not surprisingly, people do not always deal systematically with an important decision. They might overreact and plunge headlong and headstrong into it. They might also show great resourcefulness in avoiding the decision. Problem solving and decision making are often imperfect processes that require new decisions to compensate for prior decisions. The basic process includes defining the problem, generating and evaluating alternative solutions, choosing among solutions and implementing the decision. Both evaluative and creative behaviors are important in all stages. At each step, a number of errors can be made that reduce the effectiveness of a decision: people frequently define problems too narrowly, or fail to generate sufficient alternatives and premature and incomplete evaluation is also common. Because of such errors, many ideal models and techniques for better decision making have been suggested. These can help decision making significantly, but rarely produce perfect and lasting solutions. In this paper we describe characteristics of the process of problem solving and decision making. Emphasis is given to the difficulties that arise and to methods for improving the process.