| Time to Jump Decision Making and Taking Actions) When facing a tough or difficult situation, how quick are you in taking actions? We all take different decisions everyday in life. Which educational course to enrol in? How much time should Road be devoted to study each subject? Which questions to take up first in an exam? With whom to Ahead... socialise and make friend? and many more . .. How do you reach these decisions? Doyou decide and strike when the iron shot and take advantage of an opportunity beforeitistoo late? Once a frog fell in a vessel of hot water. The water was just placed on the gas stove and was not so hot. Therefore the frog did not try to jump out of the vessel, instead just stayed in it. Gradually, the water in the vessel became hot. As the temperature of the water started to rise, the frog managed to adjust its body temperature accordingly. As the water started to reach the boiling point, the frog was no longer able to keep up and manage its body temperature according to the rising temperature of water. The frog tried to jump out of the vessel but with the temperature of water reaching its boiling point, the frog was not able to bear it and couldn't jump out. What was the reason that the frog couldn't make it? Will you blame the hot water for it? In the above story the frog couldn't make it due to its own inability to decide when it had to jump out. There are times when we need to face the situation and take appropriate action when we have the strength todo sobeforeitistoolate. In life we have to make decisions all the time, tolife changing decisions like - what to study Om from trivial issues like what to have for lunch oryhat career path to take up in future. Decision Making Simply defined, decsion making is the\ act of choosing between two or more courses of action. Decisions can be oA made through either an intuitive or reasoned process, or through a combination of the two. The method used for decision making depends on the nature of the decision to be made and how Gf KY complexitis. Intuitive Decision Making ‘magical sense’ rather it is a your personal values that helps you Intuition is good because it reflects Intuition does not mean any combination of past experience and tomake a decision considering your your learning about life. z Reasoned Decision Making Be Reasoning means using the available se and Pours tomake decisions. However, it | res the emotiona’ aes lire a more formal, jolving both intuition andCharacteristics of Good Decision Makers The world isin need of people who have the ability to make decisions quickly. and responsibly. Theref important to acquire and practise good decision making skills. The best decision makers are Combine logic. problem analysis and intuition to come up with the correct decision. Some of characteristics of a good decision maker are: They are good listeners: Good decision mak opinions when making decisions. ‘ers are able to hear and take into account other peop They have a clear set of priorities: Good valuesin order to choose a good or ‘corre: decision makers have a clear understanding of their Priorities op ct path. They have an open mind: Good decision m akers are open to other people's views and ways of thinking rather than following one way of doing things. They are flexible and willing to change: Goor doing things that may work out better in the end. They are realistic: Good decision makers understand the practical and realistic outcomes to which _ different decision paths will lead, i Importance of Decision Making “It's not hard to make decisions when you know what your values are.” ~ Roy E. Disney "ming task, it becomes necessary to find out the best way and Decision making plays an important role in our life. It is used to achieve goals, assess standards and helps us in attaining our desired quality of life. When there are different ways of perfo that is what decision makingis all about. By choosing the best method of doing any work, decision making ensures optimum use of resources, Decision making helpsto find solutions toany problem, whetherin life or atwork. Decision making helps to identify he best course of action in each Given situation and thereby promotes effici iency. é 7 Steps to Effective Decision Making a A step-by-step decision making process helps to (5) ae make a more thoughtful decision by organising relevant information and i ‘Choose Among defining alternatives, < Alternatives 3 Assess the ~~ Evidence Identify 2 Alternatives Gather ov Information Identify the DecisionStep 1- Identify the Decision: This is the stage when you realise that you need to make a decision. Try to clearly define the nature of the decision you must make. This first step is very important. Step 2- Gather Relevant Information: At this stage collect some pertinent information before you make your decision like - what information is needed, the best sources of information and how to get it. This step involves collecting information both internally and externally. Some information is seeked internally through a process of self-assessment while other information is obtained externally - from books, online, from other people or from other sources. Step 3 - Identify the Alternatives: After collecting the relevant information, you will identify several possible paths of action or alternatives. You can also use your imagination and additional information to construct new alternatives. This step helps to list all possible and desirable alternatives. Step 4 Assess the Evidence: Use your information and emotions to imagine what it would be like if you carried out each of the alternatives to the end. Evaluate whether the problem identified in step 1 could be met or resolved through the use of such an alternative. Alternatives that have a higher potential of taking you to your goal will be favoured by you. Finally, place the alternative in priority order based upon your own value system. Step 5 Choose Among Alternatives: After weighing all the evidence you are ready to select the alternative that seems tobe the best one for you. You may even choose a combination of alternatives. Step 6 - Take Action: At this stage, you are ready to take some positive action by beginning to implement the alternative you chose in step 5. Step 7 -Review Your Decision: In this final step, consider the results of your decision and evaluate whether or not it has resolved the need or problem you identified in step 1. ifthe decision has not met the identified need, you may want to repeat certain steps of the process to make a new and better decision. This may require gathering more detailed or different information or exploring additional alternatives. Decision making is a skill and like all other life skill, this too can be acquired and improved with practise. Learning to make better choices comes from seeing, listening and doing, They improve with study, counselling, coaching and practise. ° O reflections:L 1 4 5 Answer the following questions. When the frog tried to jump out of the vessel, he couldn't do so. Why? What do you mean by decision making? What are the two main types of decision making? Ust any three characteristics of good decisis Why is decision making important in our What role does information playin making a decision? State whether the following statements are true or false. Rewrite the falsestatements, ‘correcth Decisions can be made through either an intuitive or reasoned processor through 3 neither of the two. The best decision makers are people who combine logic, problem analysis and intuition and come up with the correct decision. Good decision makers are not open to other people's view and ways of thinking, By choosing the best method of doing any work, decision making ensures minimum use of resources. Atthe fourth stage of the decision making process, you realise that youneed to makea decision. Fillinthe blanks with the correct words. Asthe of the water started to rise, the frog managed to adjust its body temperature accordingly. Decision making is the act of choosing between two or more courses of means using the available facts and figures to make decisions. Decision making helps to find toany problem, whetherin life or at work. Learning to make better choices comes from seeing, and doing, “A step-by-step decision making process helps to make a more thoughtful decision by organising relevant information and defining alternatives.” Whatare the 7 steps to effective decision making? Elaborate and explain. “Learning tomake better choices from seeing, listeningand doing.” Do you agree with the above statement? Discuss an instance when you have experienced the same inyour life.@ Know Yourself (Life skill exercise) Weall make decisions in life. Analyse some of the decisions you have made so far inlife and place themin the following three categories. Good Decisions Decisions which could be Better Bad Decisions ¥ orld around you (Life skill exercise): Sometimes we need to take a collective decision and bring everyone to decide on the same thing. See how good are you and your classmates in doing this. Imagine this scenario. Your city has experienced sudden heavy rainfall and all roads and lanes are flooded with water. You and your classmates are stranded in the school building. The doors are locked and knocking down the doors and windows is not an option. Give your class 30 minutes to decide on 10 items in the school that they need for survival and rank them in order of importance, The goal of the game is to have everyone agree on the 10items and their ranking in 30 minutes. Getstarted! Discuss any 5 major decisions that India has taken over the last ten yeas, that had a huge impact on the country. Discuss their consequences too.