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Decision Making Process:
Deciding is a process, not a static, one-time event. We
are continuously re-evaluating in light of new
information.
Decision making process involves the following crucial
steps:
1. Identify the decision to be made.
When you realize that a decision must be made. Your
awareness may be activated by a variety of things: the
need to declare a major, pressure from friends and
family to make a vocational choice, or a general sense
of dissatisfaction or unease. You then go through an
internal process of trying to define clearly the nature
of the decision you must make.
2. Gather relevant information.
Most decisions require collecting applicable
information. The real trick in this step is to know what
information is needed the best sources of information
available, and how to get it. Some information must be
sought from within you through a process of
self-analysis; other information must be sought from
outside through-books, people, and other sources.
3. Identify alternatives.
Through the process of collecting information you
will probably identify two or more possible paths of
action. You may also use your imagination and
information to construct new alternatives.
4. Weigh evidence.
Draw on your information and emotions to imagine what it
would be like if you carried out each of the
alternatives to the end. You must evaluate whether the
problem or need identified in Step 1 would be helped or
solved through the use of each alternative. Eventually
you are able to place the available alternatives in
priority order, based upon your own value system.
5. Choose among alternatives.
Once you have weighed all the evidence, you are ready to
select the alternative which seems to be best suited to
you. You may even choose a combination of alternatives.
6. Take action.
You now take some positive action which begins to
implement the alternative you choose in Step 5.
7. Review decision and consequences.
Here you can experience the results of your decision and
evaluate whether or not it has “solved” or helped to
solve the problem in Step 1. If yes, you may stay with
the decision. If no, you may repeat certain steps of the
process in order to make a new decision.
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