Decision Making Model

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Decision Making Model
Making a good decision requires time and effort. Everyone makes decisions everyday. Most of these decisions are made without a lot of time and effort. When confronted with ‘big’ or ‘important’ decisions most of us struggle with how to make the best decision. If we try to make decisions using logic, careful analysis and perform a thorough information search we should feel confident that we are going to make a good decision. When applying rationality to decision making we are forced to confront and clarify our priorities and values.
Imagine someone walking into a neighborhood drugstore to purchase a bottle of Scope mouthwash. What made him/her purchase Scope rather than the Listerine that he or she has been using since the tender age of ten years old? The answer may lie in critical thinking. What is critical thinking? According to Bassham et al, “critical thinking is the general term given to a wide range of cognitive skills and intellectual dispositions needed to effectively identify, analyze, and evaluate arguments and truth claims, to discover and overcome personal prejudices and biases, to formulate and present convincing reasons in support of conclusions, and to make reasonable, intelligent decisions about what to believe and what to do” (Bassham et al, 2002). Does a person always use critical thinking? Not always, because we are so used to being in a decision routine. But we all may have used critical thinking at one time or another.
Rational Decision Model
What is a rational decision? “A rational decision is one which best achieves the multitude of objectives of the decision maker(s).” (Ernest H. Horman & Mary Ann Selly, 2001). When we want to make the ‘best’ decision we need to take our time, look at our options and really try to figure out what we want to accomplish. We have to think about the various scenarios that may result because of the decision we make. One model that...