Test: Decision Making & Problem Solving - UPSC MCQ

To get effective decision making environment, manager should encourage others to make decisions as well as should recognise the importance of quality information. Manager is also expected to try new things to improvise the outcome of decision. So, manager should encourage for participative/ democratic process of decision making rather relying solely upon himself/herself.

• Heuristics are simple, efficient rules based on experiences which people often use to form judgements and make decisions. This usually involve focusing on one aspect of a complex problem and ignoring others.
• Although, these rules work well under many circumstances, but they can lead to systematic deviation from logic or rationality resulting errors in decision making.

The correct sequence of a manager's steps in the decision-making process is: 1, 3, 4, 2.
1. Define the problem.
3. Develop potential alternatives.
4. Establish a control and evaluation system.
2. Identify the limiting factors..

• The Delphi technique is used in structured communication technique to reach the correct response through consensus.
• Out of box thinking generates unconventional ideas.
• Nominal group technique is the decision making process which prevents the domination of discussion by single person, encourage the more passive group members to participate.
• In brain storming, individuals work alone and then groups were asked to brainstorm a list of ideas using procedures that encouraged creativity and discouraged criticism and evaluation. The scores of the individuals who worked alone were combined, averaged and compared with the scores of the groups.

Decision tree, a schematic tree-shaped diagram used to determine a course of action or show a statistical probability.
Each branch of the decision tree represents a possible decision or occurrence. The tree structure shows how one choice leads to the next and the use of branches indicates that each option is mutually exclusive. This technique is used as quantitative technique decision making.

Representativeness heuristic, a mental shortcut that helps us in making a decision by comparing information to our mental prototypes. e.g. if someone was to describe an older woman as warm and caring with a great love of children, most of us would assume that the older woman is a grandmother. She fits our mental representation of a grandmother, so we automatically classify her into that category.

Asking some one to arrange an umbrella as mentioned in option (a) will not be appropriate while options (b) and (d) do not serve the purpose as it is mentioned that it is important and you cannot afford to postpone it. Here, in this case continuing the address without bothering the rain as mentioned in option (c) will be the best course of action.

Here, options (a) and (c) are not appropriate as these are not valid on ethical grounds while option (b) is also not valid as you are the head of the office and you have certain important tasks to accomplish. In this case, option (d) would be the best course of action as there are certain officials for each work in every office, so one has to consult them.

Not replying to the Commission may lead to further undesirable situation as the truth is in the media report which made commission take cognizance. Thus, the option (c) will only solve the problem which led to death.

Being a responsible citizen and a regular visitor to the library, you may not stop from taking some proper action to help improve the condition of the library. Informing newspaper reporter to make a report is the best way to tackle the problem besides this it is necessary to write to the concerned authority to take action. Thus, option (d) is the best answer.

Option (a) is not correct and ethically not permitted. Option (b) will not solve your problem giving a written complaint about the feeler as mentioned in option (d) is logically not correct. So, best course of action is to go to the higher officer for help and verbally complaining about feelers.

Option (b) would not be moral as everyone has the right to give justification while option (c) is an escapist attitude. Protesting is correct, but lodging a complaint to the concerned authority will give the result, so, option (a) is the best course of action.

Option (a) shows you made the proposal to get cash in kind and (b) or (c) shows you are money minded and not honest to the work. Only option (d) shows that you are honest and not glutton for money or gifts.

Opting for (a), (b) and (d) are improper. The decisions will be without information and also lack in empathy. Thus, option (c) is the correct one as the incident was an accident and not the deliberate mistake or negligence in the performance of duty at the part of the subordinate.

Option (a) will be most appropriate answer; option (b) will be negative approach whereas options (c) and (d) are irresponsible and negligence and show that you lack in coordination as a higher officer. So, option (a) suits to be a best option.