Likewise problems,
decision-making have also various types. Some decisions require great
contemplation, prudence and wisdom. It is also possible that such type of
decisions is to be faced by the administrator once in life time. Some decisions
do not require deep thinking and they are settled very easily.
Decision-making
are of two kinds
- Programmed decision
- Non-programmed decision
Programmed decision
A decision
made when the situation occurs frequently enough or is sufficiently
well-structured to be resolved by applying predetermined decision rules.
An
administrator does such type of decision in the situation where rules and
regulations are already existed to address these problems. These decisions are
done repeatedly and they are routine matters. The situation is very clear
before the administrator. This type of situation requires future policy
formation and leads to enact new rules and regulations. Policy is the
principle, which considered as the guiding line of action. For the
implementation of this policy rules and procedures are formed. For example, the
rule is passed that the primary education is a compulsion for children who are
five years old is “rule” in true sense. The procedure is also determined which
explains how the policy will be enforced in practice i.e. children’s name, date
of birth, income of parents. In this regard parents give oath for admission. It
is a procedure. Either the school Urdu as medium of instruction or English as
medium, it will be decided on policy level. It means, in such decision rules,
policy and procedures will be observed. We also call it SOP (Standing Order
Procedure).
Non-programmed decision
A decision
made in a situation where pre-determined decision rules cannot be applied
because the situation is less structured occurs rarely, or in unique.
This
includes hard decisions which are made by high authorities. For example, some
private institutions decide that students should be studied in their
organization without fees on certain terms and conditions. For this, the
question is addressed that from where do the resources be generates? How does
the salary be arranged for the teacher? Such type of decision can only be made
by owners of the school despite the principal or teachers.
Conditions of decision making
The
administrator has to face different problems during decision making process. In
some cases he has information; on some he has vague information or absence of
policies, rules and procedures. Already established rules are ineffective to
solve this problem. He is not certain about the solution. In this case four
conditions are essential to keep in mind.
Certainty
Condition of
certainty is a situation in which the manager has complete information about
the problem, the alternative, and the consequences of a decision on the future.
Therefore,
such types of decisions are taken easily and effectively. But in some cases
circumstances can be changed entirely in future. In these decisions
administrator follow rules, procedures and policy or his discretionary powers
creatively without any pressure and time frame.
Risk
Condition of
risk, a situation in which the manager understands the problem and the
alternatives and has only enough information to estimate the probability that
the available alternatives will lead to desired outcome.
Manager or
head keeping in view the possibilities and takes decision and the whole team
follow the decision and work but a risk remains such as one subject if remains
weak will lead the failure in result as a whole in class. It is necessary for
an educational head to avoid such risks and try to produce better results.
Uncertainty
Uncertainty
means ambiguity, vagueness and lack of clarity. It is condition, a situation in
which the manager understands the problem but has incomplete information about
the alternatives and the probably consequences of each alternative.
Thus manager
has to use his own reason, logic or intuition to reach on some decision in this
uncertain condition. He himself remains unclear about the results. It is a
complex and challenging situation that require natural leadership qualities.
Ambiguity
Ambiguity is
a situation in which the manager has little or no information about the
problem, the alternatives or the consequences of each alternative.
Manager has
to make his own new set up and design a unique strategy to get way out of the
problem. This entire situation requires great leadership qualities and supreme
confidence of the leader. The more he is knowledgeable and experienced the more
he will breed in himself the resolution of solving problems.
Models of decision making
Classical
model
In this
model the outlook is objective and rationale. Decisions are made with complete
knowledge and information. Alternative models are scrutinized keenly and
explained in detail. All the objectives are clear and visible. Everything is in
black and white. But the problem is such rationale and logical path cannot be
followed accurately. In real life situation nobody knows what will happen. To
decide and launch a strategy is our power, but what would be the consequences
nobody can predict. Developed countries have reached at the point of knowledge
and technology and strategies that they can assume and predict human behavior
to possible extent and use in problem solving.
Administrative
model
In this
model, managers cannot decide, in rational and logical way. This model is also
termed as “Bounded Rationality”. According to which decisions of decision maker
depends upon his own knowledge and time. Therefore, usually due to lack of
knowledge and information it remains imperfect and causes a loss to
organization. It happens due to lack of resources and time which hamper
availability of information. If complete information is available, the
inexperienced decision maker will not be able to take right decisions.
Sometimes
alternatives are ignored without assessing their true worth, its details and
consequences. All this happens due to lack of intelligence and memory.
Barriers on decision making
There are
some barriers which hinders the decision making process. A manager should avoid
from them. They are as follows:
- Incomplete information
- Incomplete identification of the problem
- No preparation of list on alternatives.
- Decisions based on biases
- Head of school sticks on the decision after revealing its weaknesses during implementation
- To change the existing situation despite its positive results
- To make defense of some issue illogically and without rational