Website design By BotEap.comI see an important distinction between problem solving as a method and decision making as a process. I see problem solving as an important component of decision making, but I see this distinction: Decision making seems to be the last act of convergent thinking as a prelude to action. I see problem solving as an analytical or intuitive process of gathering facts, sifting and sorting, sorting and filtering, forming and describing; I view decision making as executive action that provides specific context and value judgments that lead to actions. So I think they are complementary but not identical. I believe that different skill sets are needed to be able to operate effectively in both domains.

Website design By BotEap.comThere is a continuum from rationality to bounded rationality, from the trash can method to recognition-based decision making. The trash can method describes the case where problems, solutions, money, and action officers are all mixed up in one place and the action occurs when two intersect. Each method can be useful, but I think the trashcan method is misnamed when, in fact, I think it is the most prevalent decision-making style in bureaucracies and governments in complex organizations.

Website design By BotEap.comI think this is because of the many different roles that people play within a large organization: some are resources, some are in sales, some are in manufacturing, some are in human resources. When all of these competing agendas with their different timelines and projects are put into one big boat, it’s normal to see decisions being made when two of them come into contact. Describing this as the “trash can method” tends to trivialize this important political and sociological process.

Website design By BotEap.comI think Vroom’s continuum of decision-making styles is excellent to the point where I use it in the classroom to describe the different options available to managers and leaders of large units. The decision tree is particularly effective for designing a systematic, coherent, and logical approach to solving problems that don’t necessarily lend themselves to recipes.

Website design By BotEap.comGary Klein’s prepared decision-making survey is excellent and I find it very appropriate at times when experts are in a position to make judgments within their field of expertise. Klein offers this as an alternative to purely rational decision making. However, my particular area of ​​interest for this deals with a third category. And that is when we are faced with problem solving and decision making that go beyond the domains of rationality and bounded rationality expertise into the area of ​​ill-structured or perverse problems. The Army is looking for ways to move from ill-structured problems to the domain of semi-structured problems where rational or expert decision making becomes appropriate. I am examining how the Army’s proposed theory compares to current theory and practice in this area.

Website design By BotEap.comI think it’s important to address the distinction between problem solving and decision making so that you can be clear as a leader about what you’re currently doing and so your people don’t get confused.