| Not all decisions are alike. Nor is
every decision made in the same manner. Although some actions you undertake
derive their basis from newly made decisions, there are other instances when
decision-making does not really take place. The latter, according to Deacon and
Firebaugh, may involve routine, programmed, impulsive or intuitive action. When
you wake up in the morning and prepare to attend class, do you consciously make
decisions about such things as which side of your hair to comb first, how to
brush your teeth, or which shoe to put on first? Probably not. Although you may
have made a conscious decision about what you were going to wear to class, you
probably didn't spend any time in making a decision about how to get ready to
at- tend class. Every individual has certain habits or routine behaviors.
Although they originated from decisions made at an earlier time in your life,
you no longer consciously make these decisions each time you undertake this type
of action. Routine plans or actions serve a useful purpose in your daily life and management. How long would it take you to get up, get ready, and walk to class if you had to make separate decisions for each action you take? You use routine plans or action resources to make new decisions. In addition to the habitual behaviors or routines you follow, you also have certain specific actions you undertake in a given situation. These are called programmed decisions. Programmed decisions are different from routines. Routine plans or actions are patterns of behavioral. actions repeatedly undertaken on a consistent and regular basis. Programmed decisions. on the other hand, utilize your past experience in a similar situation For instance, you know you are going to have a test. Your method of studying for this test will ha done using your knowledge of a similar experience. The degree of success previously achieved will be a determinant in how. when, where, and the length of time you study for this test. Programmed decisions, like routines are a resource in your management. When the action undertaken proves to be successful you repeat the same action the next time when a similar situation occurs. This successful achievement, measured by the satisfaction you received, determines when and the extent to which you modify the original decision before employing it again in other like situations. Both routine and programmed decisions serve useful purposes. They act as resources by eliminating the need to make new decisions. They also evaluate managerial action. The success you achieve enables you to by- pass or minimize the use of the decision-making process. |