Problem Solving and Decision Making

Problem Solving & Decision Making:

The most important job of a manager in an industry is Problem Solving and Decision making. After arriving to a decision he also needs to implement it.

Now both Decision making and Implementation can be done at either Individual level or team-wise. Thus if we draw a matrix we can get four combinations:

Of all the combinations one coloured yellow is the most complex at it it involves complexities due to the involvement of the group in which different candidates may have different views regarding the problem. The one where both the decision and implementation is done by individual is an example of Craftsmanship. In Modern Management system all the decisions are made in groups.

Coming to the different steps in decision making 

• Estimation Analysis
• Valuing
• Priority Setting
• Problem Analysis
• Information Gathering
• Problem Definition
• Situation Analysis
• Idea
• Decision Making
• Implementation

We also discussed about the relation between Problem Solving and Decision making. The latter is a subset and outcome of the Problem solving process as shown in the below Venn Diagram:

The problems can be classified into two broader categories:

• Rich and Poor differenciation
• Simple and Complex

But however complex the problem be, its never "Tough". We should be ready to handle any problem we face     

- Only Solutions can be classified as simple or complex.