HURDLES FACED DURING EFFECTIVE DECISION MAKING

HURDLES FACED DURING EFFECTIVE DECISION MAKING

Effective decision making is an art which obviously cannot be earned overnight, hence, needs to be nurtured in time. However, even an efficient leader cannot remain unaware to certain hurdles which show his decision making capacity. An effective decision has positive effects on all the departments, and equal damage is caused by an ineffective decision. Hence, he has to remain vigilant about the repercussions caused by his decisions.

As a professional as well as an individual, we face many situations in our professional as well as personal lives, wherein it is quite tough to take a decision. A careful study of various hurdles faced will lead you to take effective and better decisions in future.

Following are typical barriers faced by an administrator while developing strategies.

1.      Level of Decision Making Not Clear

Sometimes, there is ambiguity in the level of power an administrator holds, whether he holds the right to make modifications in the existing system. This often leads into confusion in the minds of the administrator, especially at a middle level.

2.      Less Know-how

One of the most common barriers in decision making is not knowing how to make a decision in the first place. It may seem strange, but many people do not know how specifically they actually make decisions, or they use different decision making strategies in different circumstances without realizing it.

3.      Taking Help

Life numbing barriers in decision making is the idea of allowing someone else to make the decision for you. This occurs in a more subtle form when people wait for things to happen as opposed to making them happen. It allows people not to have to take responsibility for themselves and for what occurs.

4.      Faulty models

Some of the available decision making models are themselves decision making barriers. The models may seem rational and sensible but they may not necessarily reflect how humans actually make decisions. With the result that after a few poor decisions, the decision-maker loses confidence and makes decisions reluctantly, if at all.

5.      Lack of Time

Quick decisions often lead to terrible effects. However, institutions are subject to emergencies and often, as a decision making authority, you need to take a call in the limited time available. This can pose as a most difficult hurdle to most leaders, however an efficient leader has to go through these testing times.

6.      Lack of reliable data

Lack of reliable data can be a major hindrance in making apt decisions. Unclear and incomplete data often makes it difficult for them to make appropriate decision, which may not be best suited for any organization.

7.      Risk-Taking Ability

Any decision attracts a fair deal of risk of resulting into negative outcome. However, it is necessary to take calculated risks for an effective decision. Also, at the same time, casual attitude and completely ignoring risks will not result into taking appropriate decisions.

8.      Too Many Options

A leader can be in a problem if there are too many options to an effective solution. Finding the appropriate one can be very difficult, especially if a particular decision favors a department over the other.

9.      Inadequate Support

A leader, however good he may be, cannot work without an adequate support level from his subordinates. Lack of adequate support either from top level or grass root level employees may result into a great jeopardy for the leader.

10.  Lack of Resources

An administrator may find it difficult to implement his decisions due to lack of resources- time, staff, and equipment. In these cases, he should look out for alternative approaches which fit in the available resources. However, appropriate steps must be taken in case he feels that lack of resources may stop the growth of the organization.

11.  Inability to Change

Every organization has its own unique culture which describes its working policies. However, some policies are not conducive for leaders who are looking out for a change. Rigid mentality of top level management and the subordinates are the biggest hurdle, wherein a leader cannot make positive amendments even if he wishes to do so.

HOW TO OVERCOME THESE HURDLES

Problems often compel administrators to act in rush before the facts are known and often before the actual primary problem is recognized or understood. A knowledge of these barriers will assist you in your attempts to analyses problem situations and make reasoned decisions. 

In case you are a member or leader of any decision making group, you would like to overcome these hurdles. Here are several strategies to overcome these barriers: 

·         Leaders can encourage each member to be a critical elevator or various proposals. 

·         When individuals are given a problem to solve, leaders can refrain from starting their own position and instead encourage open enquiry and impartial searching of a wide range of alternatives. 

·         The organization can give the same problem to two different independent groups and compare the resulting solutions. 

·         Before they reaches a final decision, members can be required to take a respite at intervals and seek advice from other wings of the organization before returning to make a decision. 

·         Outside experts can be invited to group meetings and encouraged to challenge the views of group members. 

·         At every meeting, one member could be appointed as a devil's advocate to challenge the testimony of those advocating the majority position. 

·         When considering the feasibility and effectiveness of various alternatives, divide the employees into two sections for independent discussions and compare results. 

·         After deciding on a preliminary consensus on the first choice for a course of action, schedule a second meeting during which members of the group express their remaining doubts and rethink the entire issue prior to finalizing the decision and initiating action.