做好决策的步骤

7-Step Guide to Good Decision-Making

刘立军 供稿

u  TRANSCRIPT

Welcome to Mind Tools’ Video Learning Series.

Some decisions are almost automatic. We don’t even know we’re making them. When you’re driving, for example, or cooking your favorite meal. But others are complex and tricky, like deciding on whether to invest in a new business or launch a new product.

When you have to make difficult decisions like these, you’ll need to weigh up many competing factors and consider lots of different potential outcomes. After all, you don’t want to get it wrong. But how can you ensure that the decisions you make are as risk-free as possible?

First, consider the decision in context. What’s the real issue here? Is it a straightforward problem or part of something that’s much deeper and more complex? Chances are there’s more than one factor that you’ll need to consider. So be sure to gather as much feedback and information as possible from all of the people or departments involved.

Your decision will likely impact others. So be sure to involve them in the process. This is especially true if you will be relying on other people to implement your decision. Think about who you should include in the process and create an environment where they feel safe to share their ideas and thoughts freely.

When you have lots of options to choose from, you may feel overwhelmed, but actually, the more alternatives, the better your final decision will be. So be as creative as possible when brainstorming solutions.

When you are satisfied, you’ve got a viable range of realistic options. Explore them thoroughly. How feasible are they? What risks are involved? And what impact will they have on colleagues, departments, and the organization?

Now, it’s time to make your final decision. If you have various criteria, you need to evaluate your decisions against. Tools like Decision Matrix Analysis or Paired Comparison Analysis can be useful.

Remember to build fairness and impartiality into this final decision-making stage. You could, for example, use the Delphi method, which involves getting people to participate in cycles of anonymous, written discussion and argument. Doing this ensures all opinions are considered equally before you go ahead.

Once you have made your final decision, sense-check it. Delve deep into the implications and be objective. Remember, your final decision is only as good as the data and research you based it on. So double-check that your information is trustworthy. Discuss your conclusions with key stakeholders. And give them time to provide feedback.

Now that the decision’s been given final approval, communicate it to everyone affected. Be clear on the detail and underline the positives. People will be more motivated to get on board if they can understand why the decision’s been made, and how it will benefit them and the organization.

Finally, be open to criticism as long as it’s constructive. Someone might raise a good point that you hadn’t considered. If this happens, review your plans and adapt them.

u  VOCABULARY

1. weigh up: to consider something carefully so that you can make a decision about it 仔细考虑，权衡

2. risk-free n. 无风险的

3. implement v. to make sth. that has been officially decided start to happen or be used 使生效；贯彻；执行；实施

4. stakeholder n. a person or company that is involved in a particular organization, project, system, etc., especially because they have invested money in it （某组织、工程、体系等的）参与人，参与方；有权益关系者

5. get on board 入伙；参与，加入

uQUESTIONS

TASK 1: 填空

Read the passage. Then listen to the news and fill in the blanks with the information (words, phrases or sentences) you hear.

Welcome to Mind Tools’ Video Learning Series.

Some decisions are almost (Q1) ______________. We don’t even know we’re making them. When you’re driving, for example, or cooking your favorite meal. But others are complex and tricky, like deciding on whether to invest in a new business or launch a new product.

When you have to make difficult decisions like these, you’ll need to (Q2) ___________ many competing factors and consider lots of different potential outcomes. After all, you don’t want to get it wrong. But how can you ensure that the decisions you make are as risk-free as possible?

First, (Q3) ____________________ in context. What’s the real issue here? Is it a straightforward problem or part of something that’s much deeper and more complex? Chances are there’s more than one factor that you’ll need to consider. So be sure to gather as much feedback and information as possible from all of the people or departments involved.

Your decision will likely impact others. So be sure to (Q4) _____________ them in the process. This is especially true if you will be relying on other people to implement your decision. Think about who you should include in the process and create an environment where they feel safe to share their ideas and thoughts freely.

When you have lots of options to choose from, you may feel overwhelmed, but actually, the more (Q5) _______________, the better your final decision will be. So be as creative as possible when (Q6) __________________ solutions.

When you are satisfied, you’ve got a viable range of realistic options. (Q7) _________ them thoroughly. How feasible are they? What risks are involved? And what impact will they have on colleagues, departments, and the organization?

Now, it’s time to make your final decision. If you have various criteria, you need to (Q8) ___________ your decisions against. Tools like Decision Matrix Analysis or Paired Comparison Analysis can be useful.

Remember to build fairness and impartiality into this final decision-making stage. You could, for example, use the Delphi method, which involves getting people to participate in cycles of anonymous, written discussion and argument. Doing this ensures all opinions are considered equally before you go ahead.

Once you have made your final decision, sense-check it. Delve deep into the implications and be objective. Remember, your final decision is only as good as the data and research you based it on. So double-check that your information is trustworthy. Discuss your conclusions with key stakeholders. And give them time to provide feedback.

Now that the decision’s been given final approval, (Q9) _______________ it to everyone affected. Be clear on the detail and underline the positives. People will be more motivated to get on board if they can understand why the decision’s been made, and how it will benefit them and the organization.

Finally, be open to criticism as long as it’s constructive. Someone might raise a good point that you hadn’t considered. If this happens, (Q10) _____________ your plans and adapt them.

To learn more about how to make good decisions, read the article that accompanies this video.

TASK 2: 选择

Choose the best answer.

1. According to the passage, what should you do when you have to make difficult decisions?

A. Consider only one factor.

B. Gather feedback and information from all involved.

C. Rely solely on your own opinions.

D. Choose the easiest option.

2. What should you do when you have lots of options to choose from?

A. Choose the one that is most common.

B. Be as creative as possible when brainstorming solutions.

C. Avoid considering too many options.

D. Choose the easiest option.

3. What is the Delphi method?

A. A tool for evaluating decisions based on various criteria.

B. A method for involving others in the decision-making process.

C. A technique for brainstorming solutions.

D. A process for building fairness and impartiality into the decision-making stage.

4. What is the importance of communicating the final decision to everyone affected?

A. To get people on board and motivated.

B. To ensure all opinions are considered equally.

C. To sense-check the decision.

D. To brainstorm solutions.

u  KEY

TASK 1: 填空

Read the passage. Then listen to the news and fill in the blanks with the information (words, phrases or sentences) you hear.

Welcome to Mind Tools’ Video Learning Series.

Some decisions are almost (Q1) automatic. We don’t even know we’re making them. When you’re driving, for example, or cooking your favorite meal. But others are complex and tricky, like deciding on whether to invest in a new business or launch a new product.

When you have to make difficult decisions like these, you’ll need to (Q2) weigh up many competing factors and consider lots of different potential outcomes. After all, you don’t want to get it wrong. But how can you ensure that the decisions you make are as risk-free as possible?

First, (Q3) consider the decision in context. What’s the real issue here? Is it a straightforward problem or part of something that’s much deeper and more complex? Chances are there’s more than one factor that you’ll need to consider. So be sure to gather as much feedback and information as possible from all of the people or departments involved.

Your decision will likely impact others. So be sure to (Q4) involve them in the process. This is especially true if you will be relying on other people to implement your decision. Think about who you should include in the process and create an environment where they feel safe to share their ideas and thoughts freely.

When you have lots of options to choose from, you may feel overwhelmed, but actually, the more (Q5) alternatives, the better your final decision will be. So be as creative as possible when (Q6) brainstorming solutions.

When you are satisfied, you’ve got a viable range of realistic options. (Q7) Explore them thoroughly. How feasible are they? What risks are involved? And what impact will they have on colleagues, departments, and the organization?

Now, it’s time to make your final decision. If you have various criteria, you need to (Q8) evaluate your decisions against. Tools like Decision Matrix Analysis or Paired Comparison Analysis can be useful.

Remember to build fairness and impartiality into this final decision-making stage. You could, for example, use the Delphi method, which involves getting people to participate in cycles of anonymous, written discussion and argument. Doing this ensures all opinions are considered equally before you go ahead.

Once you have made your final decision, sense-check it. Delve deep into the implications and be objective. Remember, your final decision is only as good as the data and research you based it on. So double-check that your information is trustworthy. Discuss your conclusions with key stakeholders. And give them time to provide feedback.

Now that the decision’s been given final approval, (Q9) communicate it to everyone affected. Be clear on the detail and underline the positives. People will be more motivated to get on board if they can understand why the decision’s been made, and how it will benefit them and the organization.

Finally, be open to criticism as long as it’s constructive. Someone might raise a good point that you hadn’t considered. If this happens, (Q10) review your plans and adapt them.

TASK 2: 选择

Choose the best answer.

1. According to the passage, what should you do when you have to make difficult decisions?

A. Consider only one factor.

B. Gather feedback and information from all involved.

C. Rely solely on your own opinions.

D. Choose the easiest option.

【答案】 B

【解析】文章第三段提到在做艰难的决策时，需要考虑许多相互竞争的因素和很多潜在的结果。所以需要尽可能多地收集相关反馈和信息，故选B。

2. What should you do when you have lots of options to choose from?

A. Choose the one that is most common.

B. Be as creative as possible when brainstorming solutions.

C. Avoid considering too many options.

D. Choose the easiest option.

【答案】B

【解析】文章第六段提到，当你有许多选择时，你可能会感到不知所措，但实际上，选项越多，你最终的决定会更好。因此，在寻找解决方案时，应该尽可能创新，故选B。

3. What is the Delphi method?

A. A tool for evaluating decisions based on various criteria.

B. A method for excluding others in the decision-making process.

C. A technique for brainstorming solutions.

D. A process for building fairness and impartiality into the decision-making stage.

【答案】D

【解析】在倒数第四段中提到“Remember to build fairness and impartiality into this final decision-making stage. You could, for example, use the Delphi method, which involves getting people to participate in cycles of anonymous, written discussion and argument.”。这里明确指出Delphi method是一种让最终决策过程更公正无私的方法。

4. What is the importance of communicating the final decision to everyone affected?

A. To get people on board and motivated.

B. To ensure all opinions are considered equally.

C. To sense-check the decision.

D. To brainstorm solutions.

【答案】A

【解析】在倒数第二段中提到“People will be more motivated to get on board if they can understand why the decision’s been made, and how it will benefit them and the organization.”。 这里明确指出将最终决策告知所有受影响的人，可以让他们更容易理解如此决策的原因以及决策如何使他们和组织受益，从而激励他们也参与其中。

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