Decision making is a process that is the central activity of the manager of any organization. It is the mental activity that may require hours of sitting at your desk, reading relevant materials, making calculations or drawings, and developing draft copies of plans until the best possible plans have finally evolved. Each of the basic functions of management just described – planning, organizing, staffing, leading, and controlling – requires decision making.
Types of Decision Making:
Decision making in human service organization is of two types rational decision making and extra rational decision making.
Rational decision making : This type is considered to be objective, logical, based on hard data and is useful for technical decisions. Example: maintenance of building, equipment and flooring decisions etc.
Extra rational decision making : This type of decisions require judgment based on wisdom in addition to all available objective facts. They are often social decisions. According to Paolucci et al. (1977) social decision making occurs when there is a conflict in values, goals or roles.
Example: If parents demand use of punishment if the child is not eating full lunch provided, the enterprenuer, teacher and the parent may need to confer in social decision making process to help parents understand the school’s position regarding effective discipline.
Participants