Home management - Decision making

DECISION MAKING

Home management, a dynamic process involves decision making. Decision making is the heart of Home management. It requires knowledge of essential information, application of knowledge in life situation and the willingness to know and to apply. So the role of decision making in management involves knowing and actually applying essential information in problem situations of day to day life.

Management is a mental process which involves a series of decision -making. The steps in decision making are:

1.     Defining the problem

2.     Identifying the alternative solutions

3.     Analysing the alternatives

4.     Selecting an alternative

5.     Action in carrying out the plan and bearing responsibility for the consequences.

Defining the Problem

It involves the recognition of the problem. It needs relevant information to identify and define it first. Unless the problem is clearly defined and analysed the ultimate decision would not be effective. For e.g. Planning household activities, purchasing labour saving devices, selecting clothing for the family.

Identifying the Alternatives

Decision making will be effective only when one identifies possible alternatives. The choice of best selection of alternatives requires thorough knowledge about the availability of resources and their limitations.

Analysing the Alternatives

After identifying the alternatives, one should think of the consequences of each alternative systematically to find out the relevant one, considering the goals, values and standards.

Selecting an Alternative

After analysing the problem one should carefully select from the possible alternatives. Evaluation plays a very important role in this selection. Choosing the best from the several possible alternatives will be helpful in solving the problem.

Accepting the Consequences of the Decision

This is the ability to assess and accept the consequences of the decision for making future decision. It is the evaluational process. This experience would indicate the final outcome of the decision making. It creates self confidence in people to make effective decisions in the future.

Types of Decisions

There are different types of decisions namely individual decision, group decision, habitual decision, central decision, economic decision, technical decision and decision making due to experience and knowledge.

Individual Decision

It is the decision pertaining to an individual e.g. education. Individual decisions are more quickly made. The decision making of an individual revolves around the values, goals, standards and roles the individual assures in the relevant set of frame work.

Group Decision

It is made from the collective action of several individuals each of whom has distinct values, goals, standards and role perception. It is a difficult process and a slow process. Role conflicts would emerge in this situation.

Habitual Decision

It is the lowest level of decision. Once an individual is trained to do systematic work, he will follow that throughout his life. They are routine, repetitive actions related to daily activities. Once it becomes a habitual choice, the resultant action is quick and spontaneous.

Central Decision

Central decision has many supporting decisions to complete the whole task e.g. purchasing a house is a central decision. This leads to look out for other supporting decisions like transportation facilities, community facilities, savings etc.

Economic Decision

It is based on allocation and exchange process relating to resource use. This decision needs the allocation of human and non human resources to attain a goal. It reveals the allocation of resources among the combination of goals that will bring about the greatest degree of satisfaction.

Technical Decision

This decision involves a decision, which will .enable the best combination of resources to achieve the stated goal. 

Decision Making Based on Experience and Knowledge

There are certain decisions made in day to day living which are purely based on past experiences and knowledge. This helps a person to become more efficient and skilled in decision making process.