• Unit 1: A Framework for Decision-Making

    A central part of managing an organization, process or project is decision-making. Decision-making is often characterized as both an art and a science. You will want to trust your instincts, but also approach your decisions more methodically when you can. This unit will cover the basics of decision-making, including an overview of various approaches, considerations, and challenges.

    Completing this unit should take you approximately 2 hours.

      • 1.1: Case Study: B. Ebbers Creates Biased Decision-Making at WorldCom

        • Decision-Making URL

          Read the introduction and section 11.1, which includes a case study featuring the story of Bernard Ebbers. As the CEO and top manager of a Fortune 500 company called WorldCom, Mr. Ebbers was frequently identified as a difficult man to work for, to the extent that managers working for him often avoided telling him vital information that might have shaped how he made executive decisions. Further adding to the severity of this systemic communication breakdown, Mr. Ebbers was extremely resistant to change – a quality that produces failures in management. Use this case as a foundational analysis of all the information presented in this course. In addition, you may want to review this case again after completing this unit's readings in order to consider how the outcomes at WorldCom might have been prevented.

      • 1.2: The Foundation of Management Decision-Making

        • Understanding Decision-Making URL

          Read this section, which offers a definition of decision-making as well as a list of ethical questions you should ask yourself when making a critical decision. This section also gives detailed discussions of different types of decisions, when to employ various approaches in decision-making, and how to determine which decision-making process is the appropriate one for any given situation.

      • 1.3: Decision-Making and Management Challenges

        • Faulty Decision-Making URL

          Read this section, which addresses some of the obstacles that you may encounter during the decision-making process. Whenever a manager has to make a decision, he or she will encounter challenges. Such obstacles often arise from the biases of other people and can negatively impact the decision-making process. This section discusses some commonly-expressed biases and how to avoid letting them undermine your decision-making process.

      • 1.4: Groupthink in the Decision-Making Process

        • Decision-Making in Groups URL

          Read this section, which explores the effects of groupthink on the decision-making process and includes a compare-and-contrast outline for individual decision-making and group decision-making. Pay careful attention to the pros and cons of each and as well as the techniques associated with each. Finally, make sure you fully understand why groupthink is not a healthy habit for a manager or an organization.

      • 1.5: Developing Your Own Management Decision-Making Skills

        • Developing Your Personal Decision-Making Skills URL

          Read this section, which suggests some techniques for customizing and maximizing your own managerial decision-making skills. You will be taught how to preemptively imagine and even avoid a particular issue altogether – a technique known as the "premortem process". The goal behind learning such a process is to minimize or even prevent bad decision-making.

      • 1.6: Framing a Decision

        • Framing a Decision Page

          Read this article and think about the ways in which you make decisions. Do you frame the decision first? What are the benefits of this framing process? How can you apply some of these ideas to decisions that you may be in the process of making?