Solving Complex Decision Problems : A Heuristic Process

Making decisions is certainly the most important task managers are faced with, and it is often a very difficult one. This book offers a procedure for solving complex decision problems step by step. Unlike other texts, the book focuses on problem analysis, on developing potential solutions, and on establishing a decision-making matrix. In this fourth edition of the book, published under a new title, the authors present simplified, actionable guidelines that can be easily applied to the individual steps in the heuristic process. The book is intended for decision-makers at companies, non-profit organizations and in public administration whose work involves complex problems. It will also benefit students and participants in executive courses. Front Matter....Pages i-xvii Introduction....Pages 1-3 Front Matter....Pages 5-5 Decision Problems....Pages 7-15 Goal and Problem-Finding Systems as Requirements for the Discovery of Decision Problems....Pages 17-24 Rational Decision-Making....Pages 25-34 Decision-Making Procedures....Pages 35-47 Front Matter....Pages 49-49 Overview of the Decision-Making Procedure....Pages 51-60 Problem Verification and Analysis....Pages 61-72 Developing and Evaluating Solution Options....Pages 73-85 Decision Maxims for Establishing the Overall Consequences of the Options....Pages 87-109 Overall Evaluation of the Options and Decision....Pages 111-116 A Case Study Illustrating the Application of the Procedure....Pages 117-134 Front Matter....Pages 135-136 Decision Sequences....Pages 137-146 Information Procurement Decisions....Pages 147-157 Collective Decisions....Pages 159-177 Final Remarks....Pages 179-179 Back Matter....Pages 181-193 Annotation Making decisions is certainly the most important task managers are faced with, and it is often a very difficult one. This book offers a procedure for solving complex decision problems step by step. Unlike other texts, the book focuses on problem analysis, on developing potential solutions, and on establishing a decision-making matrix.In this fourth edition of the book, published under a new title, the authors present simplified, actionable guidelines that can be easily applied to the individual steps in the heuristic process. The book is intended for decision-makers at companies, non-profit organizations and in public administration whose work involves complex problems. It will also benefit students and participants in executive courses This book offers a decision making procedure to help managers in companies, non-profit organisations and public administration solve problems. It focuses on problem analysis, on developing solution options and on establishing the decision making matrix.