Decision Making

Steps to Improve Decision Making abilities:

Investigate the Problem

When a problem is presented to you, take the first step by spending the time needed to identify its root cause and make sure it's not just a symptom of another underlying problem. Project problems are usually related to people, processes, equipment or materials. Find out when, why and how it occurred and its impact on the project.

Prioritize it

On projects, problems occur all the time. You need to determine whether each problem needs your urgent attention or not, based on its impact on the project. If it's high impact (e.g. it's preventing your team from working) then it's "high priority" and you need to stop work and get it resolved quickly.

Identify the Solutions

With a clear understanding of the problem and its priority level, you need to identify solutions to address it. Use different techniques available to find the solutions. Then review each alternative to determine whether it actually:
· Solves the root cause of the problem
· Is easy and practical to implement
· Will prevent the problem from re-occurring

Make your decision

Now you have all of the information you need to make your decision. Don't make your decisions too hastily. Take time out of your day to carefully consider all of the pros and cons. Go for a walk, or if it's really important sleep on it so you have a clear head when deciding. Make non-important decisions quickly, but take a little more time when making decisions which are critical to the success of the project

Implement the decision

Once you have thought it through and made your decision, you need to be fully committed to implementing it . Act on it immediately by telling your team about it and then scheduling the tasks needed to make it happen. Remember , every probelm affects your project in some way, so you need to act quickely once you have decided on what to do.

If you follow these steps for every decision you have to make, then you'll make better decisions, faster. And you'll feel good about it.