An eight-step approach to making better decisions.
The following list is adapted from Smart Choices by Hammond, et al.:
The following list is adapted from Smart Choices by Hammond, et al.:
- Work on the right decision problem. Be careful in stating the problem, and avoid unwarranted assumptions and option-limiting prejudices.
- Specify your objectives. Determine what you want to accomplish, and which of your interests, values, concerns, fears, and aspirations are the most relevant.
- Create imaginative alternatives. Alternatives represent different courses of action, and your decision can be no better than your best alternative.
- Understand the consequences. Determine how well different alternatives satisfy all of your objectives.
- Grapple with your tradeoffs. Since objectives frequently conflict with each other, it becomes necessary to choose among less-than-perfect possibilities.
- Clarify your uncertainties. Confront uncertainty by judging the likelihood of different outcomes and assessing their possible impacts.
- Think hard about your risk tolerance. In order to choose an alternative with an acceptable level of risk, become conscious of how much risk you can tolerate.
- Consider linked decisions. Many important decisions are linked over time. The key to making a series of decisions is to isolate and resolve near-term issues while gathering information relevant to issues that will arise later.
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