Experience With Decision-Making Models

Experience with Decision-Making Models

Making sound decisions is the goal in everyone's personal and professional lives when problems arise. This paper explores some of the steps taken to make a sound correct decision in different situations.

Professional Situation

In early 2000, the relocation of our inbound call center to a larger facility in New Mexico that June threatened the foundation of my life as a supervisor and an employee. In response to the demoralization of the staff, the decision was made to improve morale, restore employee productivity, and encourage relocation to the new center. Davis, Skube, Hellervik, Gebelein, Sheard (1996) advise managers to define the decision, analyze alternative solutions, consider consequences of alternatives, test the practicality of that decision and collaborate with others in the process. Rather than employ punitive, negative tactics like disciplinary action, my daily encounters and biweekly team meetings focused on shared concerns, managing resentment, and job-hunting strategies. To boost morale, our team began celebrating birthdays; enjoying cash incentives for personal achievement, attending career fairs, resume writing and interviewing classes. By June, everyone gained a new position, a solid job lead or vacation plans.

Personal Situation

From a personal perspective, survival was the single word definition of my problem. According to Maxwell (1993), the problem-solving process involves identifying the problem, defining it, prioritizing and selecting the best solutions. The alternatives included relocating with the center, transferring within the company, moving back to ND with or without employment, or staying in MO and seeking other employment. After comparing the housing costs, work locations, available positions, long-term interpersonal impacts, and listening to