Decisions, Decisions: The Art of Effective Decision Making

Rating:
Summary: A breath of fresh air
Review: I can't remember the last time I read a book so useful and so much fun at the same time. This is a sweeping tour of decision making chock full of insight and information that makes you laugh out loud (usually at yourself!) How nice it is to read a book that doesn't assume the reader is an idiot, too. I can think of about a dozen people I'd like to give this to for Christmas.

Rating:
Summary: A breath of fresh air
Review: I can't remember the last time I read a book so useful and so much fun at the same time. This is a sweeping tour of decision making chock full of insight and information that makes you laugh out loud (usually at yourself!) How nice it is to read a book that doesn't assume the reader is an idiot, too. I can think of about a dozen people I'd like to give this to for Christmas.

Rating:
Summary: Only for the intellectual masochists
Review: I read a lot of books on strategy and game theory, which ultimately are also about making the right decisions. The information in this book is nothing new. Yet, I found it even more boring than other books in its genre. For example, the author outlines NINE steps to making a decision.

1)Identify your Objective
2)Do Preliminary survey of your options
3)Identify the implicated values
4)Assess the importance of the decision
5)budget your time and energy
6)Choose decision making strategy
7)Identify your options
8)Evaluate your options
9)Make your choice on time and budget

If you follow the author's nine steps to making decisions, then you are an idiot or an intellectual masochist. For example, if I walk into a donut shop and want to make a decision on which donuts to buy I must 1)realize that I want donuts to end my hunger 2)check out all 60 different donuts in the shop 3)realize donuts costs money 4)calculate how important it is to buy the right donut 5)realize you shouldn't take too much time to choose a donut because it just isn't worth it to ponder this in your head for too long and, besides, the other customers are yelling at you to make your choice by now 6)choose a strategy to choose the right donut while ignoring the donut shop manager's death stare 7)ask yourself if you want twinkies instead of donuts 8)donut vs twinkies? hmm I wonder which one is better? 9)ok I want the French Cruellers which costs a whopping 70 cents less than the good old twinkies! Ha, I have learned to make the right decisions while totally wasting my time and annoying everyone around me.

Rating:
Summary: Success Science
Review: Some may feel that the ability to be a smart decision maker and one who resolves their personal matters in wise ways is something innate to the being. David A. Welch's guide explores the procedural manner in which one can learn to become a more effective decision maker for both large and small dilemmas in both personal and professional situations. Welch has authored several books examining war and the Cuban Missile Crisis and is an associate professor of political science at the University of Toronto. In the first chapter of the book, he looks at the ideal situation for decision-making and discusses the constraints that effect our decision making in the real world using everyday examples. Welch breaks down the steps to effective decision making into nine steps. In the second chapter, Welch explores many different types of decision-making situations and the different strategies that could be used depending on what type of decision is being made. In chapter three, Welch decisions that can be quantified such as any decisions that involve money. In chapter four, Welch discusses the effects of people's emotions, judgments, and perceptions on their decision making process and the importance of being aware of these personal biases when making a decision. Chapter five is devoted to philosophical issues and moral decision-making. In chapter six, Welch explores the belief that decision-making styles of women and men differ specific to their gender. Finally, the book discusses habits and the importance of developing a strong decision making style in order to overcome an ineffective decision-making style. This book was extremely informative and used many everyday scenarios that made the reading applicable to business people as well as household decision makers. In his approach to decision making, the one who analyzes and presents options for resolving the problem situations is also the decision maker. Therefore, it is important to acknowledge personal biases, gender issues, and moral issues, which do affect the decision-making process as well as the decision that is made.