Report

A decision is a choice made from two or more alternatives. The decision-making process is a set of eight steps that include identifying a problem, selecting an alternative, and evaluating the decision’s effectiveness.

1. Step 1: Identifying a problem.

A problem is a discrepancy between an existing and a desired state of affairs. In order to identify a problem, you as a manager should recognize and understand the three characteristics of problems.

The problem is:

Your organisation is growing fast and it is outgrowing your organisational premises (for example: Shop, Office, or University). Therefore you are to expand or find new premises to accommodate the organisations needs and goals.

2. Step 2: Identifying decision criteria.

Decision criteria are criteria that define what is relevant in a decision.

3. Step 3: Allocating weights to the criteria.

The criteria identified in Step 2 of the decision-making process do not have equal importance, so the decision maker must assign a weight to each of the items in order to give each item accurate priority in the decision.

4. Step 4: Developing alternatives.

The decision maker must now identify viable alternatives that could resolve the problem.

5. Step 5: Analyzing alternatives.

Each of the alternatives must now be critically analyzed by evaluating it against the criteria established in steps 2 and 3. From the assigned values of each alternative, multiply the weighting for each alternative.

6. Step 6: Selecting an alternative.

Select the best alternative from those identified and assessed is critical. If criteria weights have been used, the decision maker simply selects the alternative that received the highest score in Step 5.

7. Step 7: Implementing the alternative.

The selected alternative must be implemented by effectively communicating the decision to the individuals who will be affected by it and winning their commitment to the decision.

8. Step 8: Evaluating decision effectiveness.

This last step in the decision-making process assesses the result of the decision to determine whether or not the problem has been resolved.

3. Conclusion

Summarise and conclude your report.

4. References (Harvard system)

Ensure that all material, quotes, etc. are referenced in the approved manner using the Harvard citation method. An explanation of the Harvard citation method is included at the end of this assignment handout.